Saudi King Upends Royal Succession, Names Son Salman as 1st Heir

The Saudi King has called for a public pledging of allegiance to the new crown prince on Wednesday at Mecca.

(Photo: Reuters)

Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Wednesday appointed his 31-year-old son Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince, placing him firmly as first-in-line to the throne and removing the country's counterterrorism czar and a figure well-known to Washington from the royal line of succession.

In a series of royal decrees carried on the state-run Saudi Press Agency, the monarch stripped Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who had been positioned to inherit the throne, from his title as crown prince and from his powerful position as the country’s interior minister overseeing security.

The Saudi King has called for a public pledging of allegiance to the new crown prince tonight at Mecca, according to state news.

Mohammed bin Salman’s promotion was approved by Saudi Council of Allegiance by vote of 31 to 34, as Al Arabiya TV stated.

The newly-announced Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman already oversees a vast portfolio as defence minister and head of an economic council tasked with overhauling the country's economy.

He had previously been the second-in-line to the throne as deputy crown prince, though royal watchers had long suspected his rise to power under his father’s reign might also accelerate his ascension to the throne.

The young prince was little known to Saudis and outsiders before Salman became king in January 2015. He had previously been in charge of his father's royal court when Salman was the crown prince.

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