Two Kuwaiti lawmakers have submitted requests to question the interior and public works ministers, underscoring a worsening rift between parliament and cabinet in the world's fourth-largest oil exporter.

Kuwait's parliament has triggered numerous cabinet resignations or reshuffles through questioning and no-confidence motions, delaying important economic reforms.   

Lawmaker Musallam Al-Barrak submitted his second request this year to question Interior Minister Sheikh Jaber Khaled Al-Sabah, over allegations that he misled the parliament over violations during elections held earlier this year.

In July, Sheikh Jaber survived a no-confidence vote in parliament after he was questioned by Barrak over alleged financial irregularities at his ministry and violations during the last elections.

Another parliamentarian, Mubarak Al-Waalan submitted a separate request on Wednesday to question Fadhel Safar, the Minister of Public Works and Municipal Affairs, over alleged administrative and financial irregularities.

Wednesday's requests come just days after an Islamist lawmaker put in a request to question Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah.
Under the constitution, each member of parliament has the right to question government ministers and this should take place at least eight days after a request is submitted.    

Political analyst Shafiq Ghabra said one possible scenario was that the government might resign to avoid questioning in parliament, which could lead Kuwait's ruler to appoint a new prime minister.

Alternatively, the emir could dissolve parliament or even suspend it for a few years to resolve the crisis. "It has now got to a point in Kuwait when you can't expect anything and when you can't expect anything, then expect the unexpected," he said.

In March, the emir dissolved parliament and called an election to prevent his nephew Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser from being grilled in parliament.

A $5 billion stimulus package had to be passed as a bylaw by the cabinet in April while the parliament was dissolved. - Reuters