Arrest of key princes indicates that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is in a hurry to take over as king.
Palace putsch! This could be one way of looking at the unfolding drama in the ruling family in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Through the arrest and dismissal of key princes, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) has sought to eliminate potential challengers to ascend the throne after his father, King Salman.
As many as 11 senior princes were taken into custody on charges of corruption. These arrests were justified on grounds of “transgressions and financial mismanagement” with the pledge that the newly constituted anti-corruption committee “would ensure that investigations into these cases are completed and that the full force of the law is applied.” However, the selection of individuals tells a different story.
Regarding the speed and scale of action and the targeted individuals, this move is unprecedented in Saudi Arabia, known for its lethargy when it comes to action. Indeed, senior members of the Al Saud family used to cling to their positions for decades, thereby inhibiting any dramatic actions or policy pursuits. For example, before becoming monarch, Salman was the governor of Riyadh for over four decades, while prince Sultan held the charge of the defence ministry since the early 1960s.
This story is from the November 19 , 2017 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 19 , 2017 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BIOPIC AND BEYOND
Randeep Hooda may have proved his acting credentials with biopics, but typecast him at your own peril
Flutter of flimsy wings
Butterfly Research Centre in Bhimtal boasts 3,500 butterfly and moth specimens
SIMILAR STATES, DIFFERENT BATTLES
The Congress seems to have the edge in Telangana while in Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu and Jagan Mohan Reddy are locked in a bitter battle
A RIDE TO REMEMBER
On board Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s bus as he was attacked
Winning 14 of 17 seats is my target
Anumula Revanth Reddy is on a mission to demonstrate a democratic and egalitarian facet of power and leadership.
LOTUS TAKES ROOT
Buoyed by its slowly growing acceptance among the voters in Tamil Nadu, the BJP is mounting its fiercest offensive ever
BLANK CHECK
Several factors favour an increase in the BJP’s vote share in Kerala, but whether the party can win a seat remains uncertain
CONGRESS HAS A HISTORY OF MAKING ADJUSTMENTS WITH COMMUNAL FORCES
In April 2021, as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was leading the CPI(M)’s assembly poll campaign to win a second consecutive term, a spirited debate erupted in Kerala over an epithet that party workers had bestowed on him.
POLL PLOT
Congress hopes its five guarantees’ will blunt BJP’s aggressive push
MODI'S GUARANTEES REMAIN IN SPEECHES, MY GUARANTEES ARE FULFILLED
The transformation is unmissable. The old-school mass leader Siddaramaiah has suddenly switched into the new avatar of a master strategist.