Crown Prince of Arabia Started His Quest for a Place in History With Arrest of 38 Corrupt Princes

February 4, 2020 Stan

Crown Prince carries out a veritable coup as he consolidates his power in the quest for modernization

Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has moved with lightning speed, something unheard off in Saudi Arabia earlier as he orders detention 38 prominent businessmen including 11 princes.

Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has sent a clear message that the old way of doing business and trying to keep Saudi Arabia under wraps are over. The Prince who is only 32 is one of the modern educated men in the Kingdom. He has a clear view of making the Saudi nation get away from the shackles that have bound it. He wants to go forward, but he has realized that he cannot have his own way in case he did not break the power of the princes who ran the country almost like a fiefdom. Along with the arrests he also announced several dramatic changes to top government ministries, including the creation of a powerful new anti-corruption committee. This was nothing short of a coup and took his opponents by surprise. CNN reported this news.

. The crown prince is also deputy prime minister and minister of defense. His elevation as the heir apparent did give rise to some resistance and rumors are that the top royal princes who met were not in favor. Saudi Arabia has been ruled like a medieval kingdom where the son continued to hold the position his father held like the late King Abdullah was head of the National Guard for decades, and his son Miteb bin Abdullah took it over after his death; the late Prince Nayef served as minister of interior for 37 years and his son came after him;

Crown Prince Mohammed Has broken this fiefdom and in one stroke consolidated his power.

He started his moves by removing Prince Miteb – son and close adviser of the late King Abdullah – as head of the National Guard. In another move, the arrest of billionaire international investor Alwaleed bin Talal is a clear message that the law applies to everybody.

Crown Prince Mohammed must be complimented for his actions. He has spoken of a more modern Saudi Arabia and has said that he wanted a moderate Islam open to the world and other religions. He has also given many rights to women, that for decades were never considered. But political liberalization is not in the cards. Many have been arrested for what may seem trivial offenses against the monarchy. That message is loud and clear- he wants an absolute monarchy so that he can mold SA the way he wants it. It is only after a decade we shall be able to asses whether he was successful.. Perhaps the prince has missed an important point that in the 21st century absolute monarchy is an anachronism