Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman named Saudi PM

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been named the country's prime minister in a cabinet reshuffle, while his half-brother Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman will remain as the kingdom's energy minister.

Prince Mohammed's appointment marks an exception to Saudi Arabia's governance legislation, according to Saudi state news agency SPA. He succeeds his father, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Riyadh's prime minister position has been held by the Saudi monarch since the reign of King Faisal.

The new Cabinet list does not include a deputy prime minister, a position Prince Mohammed previously held, indicating that there is no designated successor to him. Prince Mohammed was named crown prince in 2017.

The crown prince's brother, Prince Khalid bin Salman, has taken over the defense ministry portfolio in the reshuffle. Prince Mohammed had served in that role since King Salman became monarch in 2015.

Prince Abdulaziz has served as Saudi energy minister since late 2019. He has presided as chairman of the Opec+ coalition and played a leading role in negotiating the alliance's production agreement. Saudi Arabia is the largest producer of the group, after sanctions prompted a decline in key ally non-Opec producer Russia's output.

By Ruxandra Iordache and Haik Gugarats