Saudi Arabia’s then-intelligence chief, Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz, gestures during a news conference in Riyadh in this November 24, 2007, file picture. (Reuters/Ali Jarekji)
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, issued a royal order on Thursday appointing Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as Deputy Crown Prince, making him second in line to the throne.
Prince Muqrin is the youngest son of Saudi Arabia founder’s, King Abdulaziz Al Saud. He served as Governor of Hail Province between 1980 and 1999, later being appointed Governor of Medina. He also served as head of the General Intelligence between 2005 and 2012. King Abdullah appointed him as second deputy prime minister on February 1, 2013.
The royal order read:
“Our choice, with the support and desire of Our Crown Prince, to appoint Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz as Deputy Crown Prince, in addition to the support and approval of the Allegiance Commission, is effective from the date of the issuance of this order.
“This order shall not be amended or replaced by any means. The contents of this document, signed by Us and Our Crown Prince, cannot be prejudiced or reinterpreted, and the same applies to the contents of the minutes of the Allegiance Commission supporting Our selection of Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz with an overwhelming majority of more than three-quarters of members of the commission.
“Without prejudice to the above-mentioned provisions of this order, if the King wishes—in the future—to choose a Deputy Crown Prince, he will have the right to submit his nominee’s candidature for the post to the members of the Allegiance Commission. The King would then issue a royal order announcing his choice after the approval of a majority of the members of the Allegiance Commission.”
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that legislative and executive authorities had expressed support for the appointment of Prince Muqrin as Deputy Crown Prince.
Saudi Shura Council speaker Dr. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh praised the decision as being based on “religious and legal reasoning to achieve national unity.” He said the appointment of a Deputy Crown Prince sets a precedent in the organized political art of Saudi Arabia.
“It is a modern embodiment of the deep-rooted Islamic pledge of allegiance since the rise of the Caliphate following Prophet Muhammad’s death,” he said.