Tribratanews.polri.go.id - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been appointed prime minister (PM). A position traditionally held by the King before ascending to the throne.
Reported from AFP on Wednesday (28/09/2022), the royal decision regarding the change of government position was announced on Tuesday (27/09/2022) evening, local time. The decision was published by the Saudi Press Agency.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in recent years. Mohammad bin Salman previously served as deputy prime minister under King Salman. In addition, Mohammad also served as the defense minister.
The position as defense minister was then given to his younger brother, Khalid bin Salman. Previously, Khalid served as deputy defense minister. The heads of other key ministries, including the Ministries of Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs and Energy, remained the same.
Prince Mohammed, 37, has been the first in line to succeed his father as king since 2017. Mohammed has been Defense Minister since 2015, a key step in the rapid consolidation of power.
Saudi Arabia has for years sought to quell speculation over the health of 86-year-old King Salman. King Salman, has ruled the world's top oil-exporting nation since 2015.
In 2017, he dismissed growing reports and speculation that the king was planning to abdicate in favor of Prince Mohammed.
King Salman has been hospitalized twice so far this year, the last of which was a one-week stay in May that involved tests including a colonoscopy, according to state media reports.
