Traditionally, the role of ruling Emir alternated (according to a tacit agreement) between two rival branches of the Al Sabah family – the Al Jaber and the Al Salem. The succession was always strictly a family affair, and any disputes remained behind closed doors. However, with Sheikh Jaber al-Sabah’s death, the succession was not only subjected to feverish public debate, but the Kuwaiti press and Parliament were key actors in determining the outcome.
传统上，统治地位的埃米尔的角色根据不成文的协议在萨巴赫家族的两大对立分支，也就是贾比尔和萨利姆之间轮流担任。继位总是一件严格的家族事务，所有的争端都不为外人知晓。但是，随着萨巴赫的死亡，继位问题不仅成为激烈公开辩论话题，而且科威特的报纸和议会也是决定结果的关键角色。