Eligibility Given his governmental experience, Prince Muqrin was considered a candidate for accession to the throne (after
Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the crown prince since 2005, fell ill in 2011). However, his maternal line was seen as a factor curtailing Muqrin's chance of becoming king; and he did not belong to the dominant
Sudairi faction of the royal house. He was considered a longtime ally and confidant of King Abdullah, However, the
Institute for Gulf Affairs reported in 2012 that, in an exchange of letters with his half-brother, Crown Prince
Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Prince Muqrin argued for a harsher response to
Shia unrest in the Eastern Province, an approach apparently vetoed by the crown prince. although he was not seen as a potential contender for the post by analysts. This post, which had been vacant since October 2011, is regarded as second in line to the Saudi throne. Three-quarters of the Council members supported Prince Muqrin's new post. Prince Muqrin's nomination, according to Reuters, gave more assurance to the kingdom's long-term succession process, proving prophetic with the efficient change of power upon the death of King Abdullah and the accession of King Salman on 23 January 2015. Salman simultenously elevated Prince
Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), then in his 30s, to the post of deputy crown prince. observers viewed his rapid removal as a surprise. Muqrin's treatment upon his ouster as crown prince was far different than that later accorded to MBN, who—after being ousted in a
palace coup in 2017 led by MBS—was placed under house arrest, and had much of his wealth seized. ==Personal life==