The 18-member Saudi Royal Family Council was set up by King Fahd to scrutinize the behavior of individual princes and restricting stipends of some 4,000 members of Al-Saud family, reported Iran News Agency (IRNA), quoting Financial Times Tuesday.
Financial Times, quoting Saudi and western analysts, said that the council could eventually lead to "greater transparency in Saudi royal family members' business dealings and greater clarity in areas of public finance."
Both issues, analysts said, are fundamental to the economic liberalization strategy espoused by Crown Prince Abdullah, who because of the king's illness has been the de facto head of government for most of the past five years, said IRNA.
Members of the Al-Saud family hold six of the 24 cabinet positions, including all the key portfolios.
The council was said to include not only cabinet members and provincial governors, but also all members of Al-Saud family who hold no public office, the agency said.
The paper further quoted analysts as saying that the new royal council is a sign of determination of the royal family to put its affairs in the best light, according to IRNA - Albawaba.com
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