The successor to the King of Saudi Arabia is called the Crown Prince. He is the second person after the monarch in the state in terms of authority. During the absence of the king in the country, the supreme power passes to the crown prince. The Saudi monarch bears the title "guardian of two shrines." They mean mosques in Mecca and Medina - the most important pilgrimage sites for Muslims around the world. In the past, this title was worn by the rulers of the Arab Caliphate and the Ottoman Empire. When the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, in the absence of the king, acts as head of state, his usual rank of deputy prime minister changes to the title of vice-keeper of two shrines. In the country there is a special commission called the Council of Fidelity, consisting only of members of the ruling dynasty. She is involved in succession issues and endorses the successor appointed by the king.
The origin of the Saudi dynasty
In 1744, religious leader Muhammad al-Wahhab entered into an alliance with the ruler of the city of Ad-Diriyah, Muhammad ibn Saud. They created a single state on the territory of the Arabian Peninsula. After 73 years, the young power was defeated by the troops of the Ottoman Empire, but the Saudi dynasty continued to exist. Despite the defeat inflicted by the Turks, representatives of this kind founded a new country. Its capital was located in the city of Riyadh. The state lasted 67 years and was destroyed by the Rashidi dynasty, long-standing rivals of the Saudis. The beginning of the modern kingdom was laid by Abdul-Aziz. At the beginning of the 20th century, he captured Riyadh. Subsequently, through numerous wars, he managed to unite almost the entire Arabian Peninsula and become his first king.
Government structure
Saudi Arabia is one of the few absolute monarchies that has survived in the world today. The power of the king is limited only by religious norms. He leads the government and personally appoints all ministers and judges. Before signing important decrees, the monarch consults with reputable Islamic theologians. There is an advisory body called the Majlis al-Shura, all of whose members are appointed by the king. Any political parties are prohibited. In a theocratic Saudi society, laws and the judiciary are based on Sharia. The king has the right to pardon criminals and annul sentences.
Succession
In European monarchies, the crown is traditionally passed from father to eldest son. The Saud dynasty adopted a different order: power passes from brother to brother until the last generation dies. Until now, the sons of the first king and the founder of the current state have ascended the throne. When none of them survives, the eldest of the grandchildren will receive the crown. Saudi Arabia's elected heir is appointed deputy. This is the third most important position in the country's hierarchy. Typically, this post is held by the prince of Saudi Arabia, who is due to become a senior candidate for the throne.
The first king Abdel-Aziz had 45 sons. The total number of princes is hundreds. The reason for this is the practice of polygamy. Especially numerous is the generation of grandchildren. Most of them even theoretically have no chance of taking the throne. The title of the prince of Saudi Arabia does not mean power, but only the existence of a kinship with the dynasty.
Current king
Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has been ruled by the 25th son of the country's founder, Salman. He ascended the throne after the death of his predecessor, King Abdullah. The prince of Saudi Arabia, Salman, was elected heir in 2012. Soon after coming to power, he, in full accordance with tradition, appointed his brother Mukrin, the youngest son of the first king, as the successor.
Crown Prince
However, further events took an unexpected turn. Three months later, the succession order was changed by decree of King Salman. He replaced Mukrin with his nephew, Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Ibn Naif. This reform brought closer the moment of transfer of power to the third generation of the dynasty. Many analysts have suggested that the ultimate goal of the new monarch was to make his own son first in line for the throne. This is exactly what happened two years later: Muhammad ibn Naif was not only deprived of the title of heir, but also was removed from all public posts. His place was taken by the king’s son, the prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Ibn Salman. This appointment was made to bypass many applicants and destroyed the long-standing principle of seniority.
Split within the ruling elite
The Saudi dynasty is divided into family clans, each of which pursues its own interests. The current monarch belongs to the most influential of them - Sudeyri. The previous king Abdullah was a representative of another clan - Sunayyan, which intensified during his reign. It is not surprising that Salman seeks to concentrate power in the hands of a kind. Signs of the existence of such plans have been observed for a long time. Being not yet an heir, but only the prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed ibn Salman actually began to rule the country, while simultaneously occupying the posts of Minister of Defense and head of the Council on Economic Affairs. According to experts, his candidacy received support from the United States. A photo of the prince of Saudi Arabia next to President Donald Trump at an official meeting in Riyadh attracted the attention of journalists and political scientists.
