Muqrin named deputy crown prince

Saudi Arabia’s second deputy premier, Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, has been named deputy crown prince, thus becoming the next in line for the post, the Royal Court announced Thursday in a decree issued by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
The appointment makes Prince Muqrin, the youngest son of the Kingdom’s founder King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, next in line to ascend the Saudi throne after King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense.
“Prince Muqrin will be appointed crown prince in the absence of a crown prince and named king of the country in the absence of both the king and the crown prince,” the royal decree said.
King Abdullah emphasized that nobody would be allowed to change the appointment of Prince Muqrin as deputy to the crown prince or replace him since the Allegiance Council has approved his new appointment.
He said both himself and Crown Prince Salman signed a document to this effect on March 20.
King Abdullah said the royal decree was issued to strengthen the Kingdom’s unity and stability.
“The members of the Allegiance Council expressed their opinion on the appointment of Prince Muqrin as deputy crown prince upon consent from both myself and Crown Prince Salman,” said King Abdullah, who also said that the majority of members, which exceed three-quarters of those present, backed the appointment.
King Abdullah said Prince Muqrin would continue in his present position as second deputy premier.
The decree also stated that the king would have the right to propose his candidate to the Allegiance Council in future if he wanted to appoint a deputy crown prince and issue a royal decree for that appointment following the council’s approval.
Prince Muqrin has held many important positions in the government, including director of intelligence and governor of Hail and Madinah.
Born on Sept. 15, 1945, he graduated with a degree in aeronautics from the Britain’s RAF College in Cranwell in 1968 and also acquired a master’s degree in military sciences. He also served in several positions in the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) until 1980, when he was appointed governor of Hail.