Qatari ruler appoints new prime minister
Qatar’s ruler has appointed a new prime minister,
the office of Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said on Tuesday, choosing a close
associate for an influential role that seeks to ensure the emir’s writ runs
throughout the Gulf State’s administration.
Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdelaziz Al Thani
will take on the role of prime minister after Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al
Thani, who was also Qatar’s interior minister, submitted his resignation to the
emir.
The new premier Sheikh Khalid, who will also take on
the post of interior minister, had been the head of the Amiri Diwan, the emir’s
office.
Sheikh Abdullah on Twitter thanked the emir for his
guidance during his time as prime minister.
Key cabinet positions such as foreign, energy,
finance, defense and trade ministries remained unchanged.
Sheikh Abdullah’s predecessor as premier, Sheikh
Hamad bin Jassim, who was also foreign minister, used the influential positions
to lead the Gulf state’s forays into global finance and Arab politics.
