Saudi king names Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as prime minister
- The move represents a gradual transfer of power to the prince, who is already the kingdom’s de facto ruler
- King Salman remains head of state and will continue to chair cabinet meetings he attends
Saudi Arabia’s 86-year-old king appointed his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to replace him as prime minister, continuing a gradual transfer of power in the world’s largest oil exporter.
Already de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, the appointment formalises Prince Mohammed as leader of the kingdom’s government.
Known by his initials MBS, the crown prince, 37, already oversaw many of Saudi Arabia’s major portfolios, including oil, defence, economic policy and internal security – while his father King Salman bin Abdulaziz remains head of state.
The royal decree on Tuesday did not give a reason for the move. The king will continue to chair cabinet meetings he attends, state-run news agency SPA said.
The king spent a week in hospital in May for medical examinations and treatments, SPA reported at the time.
A separate statement named one of the king’s other sons, Prince Khalid Bin Salman, to defence minister and reaffirmed all the other senior ministers in their posts.