A Future Jordan - نحن الأردن

"We are determined in the coming phase to accelerate the pace of reform," HM The King in a letter to Badran

Jordan's Abdullah picks new premier and demands fresh Cabinet
King wants 'new blood' to push reform
THE DAILY STAR

Jordan's King Abdullah II has tasked academic Adnan Badran with forming a new government to push for faster political reforms after criticism of the two-year-old Cabinet of Prime Minister Faisal al-Fayez. "We are determined in the coming phase to accelerate the pace of reform," the monarch said in a letter to Badran.

The nomination follows criticism of the Fayez government by Abdullah over its performance at an Arab summit last month, and comes as Jordan faces pressure from Western allies, namely the United States, for failing to carry out satisfactory reforms.

"We have selected you on account of your wisdom and maturity, experience and knowledge, and particularly due to your sincere belief in reform," the king said in his letter after the resignation of the 27-member Fayez government.

"We live in a turbulent region and surrounded by global conflicts," he said, but adding that "the fruits of reform will take time before they are ripe."

U.S. officials expressed their displeasure with the lack of political progress during talks last month in Washington with Abdullah, a senior official said, noting that the U.S. is one of Jordan's main financial backers.

"Jordan was a pioneer among Arab countries in the field of reform but it has been lagging behind over the past few years," a former Cabinet minister who declined to be identified told AFP.

posted by Ashraf Zeitoon @ 3:25 AM