Saudi king loses power to choose successor

[donsu]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/10/wsaudi10.xml


Saudi Arabia has significantly reduced the powers of its absolute monarchy by quietly removing the king's authority to choose his own successor.

This landmark constitutional reform, enacted by royal order last October but only disclosed this week, fundamentally changes the way the desert kingdom – which controls 25 per cent of the world's oil – is governed.

-snip-

In future, a committee consisting of senior members of the royal family, called the Bay'ah Council, will vote for the crown prince from three candidates named by the king.

(LOL)

The council is empowered to reject the king's choice and can even impose a crown prince against the monarch's will. It can also declare the king or crown prince incapable of ruling.

"What makes this change important is that, in addition to taking the final decision about who rules out of the king's hands and institutionalising it, it brings stability to the succession process," said Prince Turki al-Faisal, the former Saudi ambassador to London and Washington.

-snip-

All 21 surviving sons of King Abdul-Aziz, plus representatives of sons deceased or incapable, will sit on the council. Women are excluded from governance in Saudi Arabia.

(bunch of arrogant, afraid of women, men)
-snip-
-----------------------------


was it the king that recently summoned Cheney to come to S.A.?

[NV Whino]

1. I like this part

"It can also declare the king or crown prince incapable of ruling."

Can we instigate it here?

I'm not sure it was the king who summoned Cheney, but very likely. Also, when was Cheney there? About the time this ruling went into effect wasn't it?

[CJCRANE]

2. Probably to avoid scenes

like those depicted in Syriana...the progressive and independant-minded Prince who was first in line to the throne ended up with a cruise missile up his tailpipe.

[Warpy]

3. They are crawling toward a constitutional monarchy

and for them, it's great progress.

If we can get rid of oilmen running our government, expect to see the country become more secular over time.

[donsu]

4. babies crawl - grown men should have the courage to walk upright

these Saudi Princes and King are babies then

[Warpy]

6. When you've lived your whole life prostrate before a king

crawling is a great deal of progress.

[A Simple Game]

7. Progress is good even if it seems a small step.

I suspect this took a good deal of courage to enact.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. This is too good. Put it on the Greatest Page!

Sounds like someone Roved their constitution.