FOR GOD'S SAKE, NOT ANOTHER CABINET RESHUFFLE.... Jordan's government quits, monarch appoints new PM
Jordan's government quits, monarch appoints new PM
Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:51 AM ET
By Suleiman al-Khalidi
AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan's King Abdullah appointed national security chief as prime minister on Thursday, two weeks after triple suicide bombings killed 60 people, a senior official said.
The official said the monarch asked acting national security head, Marouf Bakheet, who had also been serving as the king's office chief of staff, to form a new government following the resignation of Adnan Badran, 69, a U.S.-educated academic appointed last April, and his government. The choice of Bakheet, 58, a former ambassador to Israel with a long career in military intelligence, underscores the king's desire to give security forces a bigger role in decision making, a senior official told Reuters.
Although the changes had long been expected, security concerns have become a priority after the November 9 bombings at three luxury hotels, claimed by Al Qaeda wing in Iraq, headed by Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Bakheet's appointment also signals the monarch wants to give more influence to old-guard military figures with a reputation for integrity and untainted by corruption, senior officials say.
Officials say the monarch will count on Bakheet to win support for his much touted economic and political reforms among the powerful conservative establishment -- the backbone of the monarch's power base -- which fears accelerated reforms could lead to an erosion of its grip on power."He (Bakheet) will balance security concerns with the need to push forward His Majesty's reform agenda to move the country toward greater political liberties," said one senior official. Bakheet is expected to form his government in the next few days.
WIDER CHANGES
The government change was part of a wider reshuffle that had been planned for months, including a shakeup of the royal court to bring in new advisors and the appointment of a new upper house with seasoned politicians to redress an imbalance against tribal politicians.King Abdullah surprised many when he appointed Badran to succeed Faisal al-Fayez, blamed by politicians for several policy blunders, including mismanagement of government finances.Tough parliamentary criticism of Badran's performance has been viewed as the most direct challenge to Abdullah since he assumed the throne in 1999.In the summer, Badran had to succumb to tribal pressure and accept the resignation of Bassem Awadallah, the king's favorite moderniser, and the driving force behind accelerated reforms.
Conservative deputies accused Badran of promoting a pro-Western reform agenda and ignoring tribal sensitivities. Political insiders say the king had been very frustrated with conservative politicians wielding extensive powers, who had tried to put the brakes on democratic reforms fearing they may dilute the influence of their Bedouin power base. They fear the king would promote changes in the electoral law which reformers say could give Palestinians bigger representation in parliament, now dominated by tribal politicians long seen as the backbone of the king's support. Most powers rest with the king, who appoints governments, approves legislation and can dissolve parliament.
posted by Ashraf Zeitoon @ 3:59 AM
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