The Kuwait Prime Minister, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, has resigned to dissuade a new conspiracy by opposition politicians to remove him from office, deepening a long-running political standoff that’s held back the economy.

The leader was first elected in December 2019, and the premier was raised questions in parliament week before, with a vote of non-cooperation to follow on Wednesday. Opposite leaders, who have reportedly pushed for Sheikh Sabah’s removal, are all set to have the necessary support to force him out.

According to sources, the prime minister had submitted his resignation letter to the country’s ruler.

For many years, political dysfunction in the OPEC member has invaded its development, discouraging foreign investment, preventing fiscal reform, and blocking efforts to diversify the oil-reliant economy.

Sheikh Sabah has conducted four governments in more than two years. The latest lineup has been in office for little up to three months.

The people of Kuwait were expecting a national dialogue which was held in 2021 with the members of the loosely aligned opposition in order to help them to overcome the year-long tensions among a parliament that is elected and a prime minister who the ruling Al Sabah family names.

The political stalemate had postponed the passage of laws involving the bill allowing the management to rent or dip into its sovereign wealth fund in times of need.

Home to about 8.5% of the world’s oil reserves, Kuwait posted a record deficit in the 2020/21 fiscal year as a cash crisis aggravated by the pandemic and plunge in oil prices left the government running to pay state salaries. The recovery in crude prices has since relieved pressure on the treasury.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, prime minister of Kuwait since 2019. Sabah operated in different governmental posts from 2006 until 2019. He is a senior member of the ruling Al Sabah family.