New Saudi king Salman bin Abdulaziz : "Saudi Arabia could not become a democracy" (SP).
Saudi watchers believe that the new king will commit himself to King Abdullah's political stance by continuing to implement the same energy policy and foreign policy. This includes maintaining the Kingdom's alliance with the United States, continuing to back the military campaign against the Islamic State, and support for the drive to oust Syrian President Bashar Al Assad from office. Domestically, he's expected to pursue series of cautious, slow-moving reform initiatives. The new king will face an immediate foreign policy challenge in Yemen due to the resignation of ally Abdurabuh Mansur Hadi on Thursday.
No Respite For Oil as New Saudi King Promises More of The Same He indicated his views on internal democratization several years ago in 2010, AP notes, when he stated that Saudi Arabia could not become a democracy "because if we did, every tribe would be a party and then we would be like Iraq and would have chaos."
Salman served as the Mayor of Riyadh, the Saudi capital, between 1954-1960, becoming governor of Riyadh province in 1963, a position which he held for 48 years before stepping down to become Defense Minister in 2011. He went on to become Crown Prince in 2012. During his time in Riyadh, he oversaw the development of infrastructure, becoming known for his anti-corruption position. Within the royal family, he has been described as arbiter in family disputes. Salman is reported to have supervised fundraising efforts for the Afghan mujahedeen in the 1980s.
What Impact Will Saudi Succession Have on Oil Prices?: Expert's View Salman's sons include Prince Faisal, the governor of Medina, and his family is in control of much of the Saudi media. His son, Prince Abdulaziz, who serves as the Assistant Minister of Oil and Natural Resources, is believed not to have been supportive of the ministry's decision to maintain output at the OPEC Summit in November.
It is commonly reported that Salman suffers from dementia and Alzheimer's, and he is reported to have suffered a stroke in 2012, and to have undergone spinal surgery recently. Hmmmm......Guess the 'Muslim Brotherhood 'den' Qatar did not like the late king too much.
Qatar declares 3 days of mourning for the late Saudi King. Bahrain declares 40! Go figure...
— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) January 23, 2015
New #Saudi King Salman has appointed his nephew, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, as deputy crown prince
http://t.co/vFzuubuasR”
— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) January 23, 2015
Always a family business,but this is interesting! Saudi king appoints son as defence minister http://t.co/6f2pCmHhBb pic.twitter.com/irZXK1NNFd
— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) January 23, 2015
