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*[[Nawwaf bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud|Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz]] (born 1932), Former Director General of Saudi Intelligence 2001-2005<ref name=gsn>{{cite journal|title=Further Prince Sultan succession speculation|journal=Gulf States Newsletter|date=16 January 2009|volume=33|issue=845|url=http://www.gsn-online.com/SSIs/SAMPLES/documents/GSN845.pdf|accessdate=31 May 2012}}</ref>
*[[Nawwaf bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud|Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz]] (born 1932), Former Director General of Saudi Intelligence 2001-2005<ref name=gsn>{{cite journal|title=Further Prince Sultan succession speculation|journal=Gulf States Newsletter|date=16 January 2009|volume=33|issue=845|url=http://www.gsn-online.com/SSIs/SAMPLES/documents/GSN845.pdf|accessdate=31 May 2012}}</ref>
*[[Badr bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud|Badr bin Abdulaziz]] (born 1933), deputy commander of National Guard 1967-2010<ref>{{cite web|title=Saudi Succession: What Happens If Crown Prince Sultan Dies Before the King?|url=http://www.cablegatesearch.net/cable.php?id=08RIYADH1757|publisher=Wikileaks|accessdate=5 May 2012|date=25 November 2008}}</ref>
*[[Badr bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud|Badr bin Abdulaziz]] (born 1933), deputy commander of National Guard 1967-2010<ref>{{cite web|title=Saudi Succession: What Happens If Crown Prince Sultan Dies Before the King?|url=http://www.cablegatesearch.net/cable.php?id=08RIYADH1757|publisher=Wikileaks|accessdate=5 May 2012|date=25 November 2008}}</ref>
*[[Abdul-Ilah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud|Abdul Ilah bin Abdulaziz]] (born 1935), adviser to [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|King Abdullah]] with the rank of minister since 2008.<ref name=saudiemb2008>{{cite web|title=Prince Abdul-Ilah bin Abdulaziz appointed royal adviser|url=http://www.saudiembassy.net/affairs/recent-news/news10100801.aspx|publisher=Saudi Embassy, Washington D.C.|accessdate=13 May 2012|date=10 October 2008}}</ref><ref name=saudiemb2008/><ref name=shenders99>{{cite web|last=Henderson|first=Simon|title=Saudi Leadership Crisis Looms: Health of Crown Prince Falters|url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/saudi-leadership-crisis-looms-health-of-crown-prince-falters|publisher=The Washington Institute|accessdate=6 June 2012|date=21 January 2009}}</ref>
*[[Mamdouh bin Abdulaziz]] (born 1940), former Governor of Tabuk Province, and director of Saudi Center of Strategic Studies
*[[Mamdouh bin Abdulaziz]] (born 1940), former Governor of Tabuk Province, and director of Saudi Center of Strategic Studies
*[[Sattam bin Abdul-Aziz|Sattam bin Abdulaziz]] (born 1941), Governor of Riyadh since November 2011.
*[[Sattam bin Abdul-Aziz|Sattam bin Abdulaziz]] (born 1941), Governor of Riyadh since November 2011.

Revision as of 22:44, 30 October 2012

Politics of Saudi Arabia

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The order of succession to the throne of Saudi Arabia is determined by, and within, the House of Saud. It follows agnatic seniority, but a prince may be surpassed or another elevated. The Allegiance Council was created in 2006 to facilitate the royal transfer of power.

King Abdullah is the current ruler of Saudi Arabia. The heir apparent from 2005 to 2011 was the late Sultan bin Abdulaziz; the second heir apparent was Nayef bin Abdulaziz from 2011 to his death in 2012.[1] On 18 June 2012, Salman bin Abdulaziz was appointed the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.[2] Prince Salman was also made Deputy Prime Minister.[3]

History

Main article: King of Saudi Arabia
Further information: History of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia became a kingdom in 1932. The Al Saud controlled vast parts of the region for two and half centuries. The Saudi royalty collapsed twice in the 1800s due to discord over succession. In 1890s, the Al Sauds was completely supplanted by a rival clan — the Al Rashid. The kingdom began to fight to restore itself through King Abdulaziz and his capture of Riyadh in 1902.[4]

Abdulaziz conquered Arabia and formed alliances by marriage to members of its biggest tribes. This strengthened his power within the Al Sauds and expanded his legitimacy in Arabia. He presided over the discovery of oil in the region. He died in 1953.

Prince Saud became king in 1953. This reign lasted until 1965. Then, Prince Faisal became king upon overthrown of King Saud. Faisal's reign was ended by his assassination in 1975. King Khalid ascended to the throne and ruled until his death in 1982. King Fahd, the head of the Sudairi faction, ruled from 1982 until his stroke in 1995. Crown Prince Abdullah then took control of the kingdom's affairs and was crowned king in 2005, after the death of King Fahd. King Abdullah is the present ruler of Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince is Salman bin Abdulaziz beginning in 18 June 2012.

Candidates

The most likely candidate for next-in-line to the throne are the King's brothers:[5]

Allegiance Council

In October 2006, King Abdullah created the Allegiance Council.[4] It is composed of 30 people: King Abdulaziz's sons, the eldest sons of the brothers who have died and the sons of King and Crown Prince.[4] The Council is led by Prince Mishaal.[4]

Power of the Council

The purpose of the Council is to ensure the smooth transition of power in the event of incapacitation or death of the King or Crown Prince.

This, along with an earlier decree by King Fahd, has opened the possibility of considering Abdul-Aziz's grandsons as viable candidates. Beyond age, the criteria for selection include:

  • Support within the Al Saud
  • Tenure in government
  • Tribal affiliations and origins of a candidate's mother
  • Religious persona
  • Acceptance by the Ulema
  • Support by the merchant community
  • Popularity among the general Saudi citizenry.

The Council votes by secret ballot.[12] The council intended to determine the line of succession after the reigns of Abdullah.[13]

The council also has the right to remove sitting kings for reasons of health.

References

  1. ^ "Saudi crown prince dies". Al Jazeera. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  2. ^ Patrick, Neil (17 June 2012). "Saudi Arabia: Crown Prince's death raises succession questions". BBC. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  3. ^ McDowall, Angus (18 June 2012). "Saudi appoints Prince Salman as crown prince". Reuters. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d "The Saudi succession: When kings and princes grow old". The Economist. 15 July 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  5. ^ "Saudi Arabia names Prince Nayef as heir to throne". BBC News. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  6. ^ "Crown Prince Sultan backs the king in family". Wikileaks. 12 February 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Further Prince Sultan succession speculation" (PDF). Gulf States Newsletter. 33 (845). 16 January 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2009. Cite error: The named reference "gsn" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ Bremmer, Ian (2 March 2012). "The next generation of Saudi royals is being groomed". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  9. ^ "Saudi Succession: What Happens If Crown Prince Sultan Dies Before the King?". Wikileaks. 25 November 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  10. ^ "After King Abdullah" (PDF). Washington Institute for Near East Policy. August 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  11. ^ "Saudi Arabia names former ambassador to US to powerful intelligence post". Associated Press. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "Saudi king details succession law". BBC News. 2007. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  13. ^ [1][dead link]
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