Gov’t reshuffle expected today

AMMAN — A government reshuffle that is expected to take place today will see the appointment of two deputy ministers and the resignation of several Cabinet members, according to an informed source.

The source told The Jordan Times that the Cabinet is scheduled to meet Sunday morning when Prime Minister Hani Mulki will accept the resignations of the outgoing ministers, “who include the ministers of water and irrigation, interior, awqaf and Islamic affairs and youth”, among others.

The two new deputy prime ministers expected to be appointed are Jafar Hassan, the incumbent director of King’s Office and former minister of planning and international cooperation; and Jamal Sarayreh, a several-time minister and current chairman of the blue-chip Arab Potash Company.

This is the sixth reshuffle of the government of Mulki, who formed his first Cabinet in May 2016.

Last week, the government survived a vote of no-confidence requested by Islamist MPs, who were supported by at least 30 other legislators. The critics accused the premier and his team of failing to address economic woes and resorting to higher taxes and subsidy lifting to increase domestic revenues.