"A sensitive subject"

(Reuters) - Saudi King Abdullah has named former intelligence chief Prince Muqrin as second deputy prime minister, a role historically seen as making the incumbent second in line to become king.
Holders of the position have gone on in the past to the crown prince ...  The role means Muqrin will be in charge of the day-to-day running of government if both King Abdullah, who is also prime minister, and Crown Prince Salman, who is first deputy prime minister, are both unwell or travelling abroad....
Muqrin, who is about 70, is the youngest son of the kingdom's founder Abdulaziz ibn Saud, and headed Saudi intelligence until July.
.......... the position of second deputy prime minister does not necessarily mean its holder will automatically become crown prince after the death of the king, as was the case in the past.
The last person to hold the position of second deputy prime minister was Prince Nayef, who went on to become crown prince before he died last June....
"The appointment of Muqrin to this post means the position of prime minister might start to carry more weight relative to the royal court," said Hossein Shobokshi, a prominent Saudi columnist....
Muqrin, was made foreign intelligence chief in 2005 but was replaced last year by Riyadh's former ambassador to Washington, Prince Bandar bin Sultan. Muqrin has always been seen as an outsider in the succession process because his mother was from Yemen..."