Mulki’s government takes oath of office before King

AMMAN – Prime Minister Hani Mulki and his Cabinet were sworn in Wednesday before His Majesty King Abdullah.

Besides Mulki, who succeeded Abdullah Ensour, the Cabinet consists of 28 ministers.

Eleven ministers are from the outgoing government. They are: Mohammad Thneibat (education), Nasser Judeh (foreign and expatriate affairs), Hazem Nasser (water and irrigation), Imad Fakhoury (planning and international cooperation), Walid Masri (municipal affairs), Ibrahim Saif (energy and mineral resources), Mohammad Momani (media affairs), Sami Halaseh (public works and housing), Bassam Talhouni (justice), Majd Shweikeh (ICT) and Omar Malhas (finance) (See profiles of new ministers).

The Cabinet includes nine ministers who have served in previous governments.

These are Jawad Anani, (industry, trade and supply), Salameh Hammad (interior), Adel Tweisi (culture), Musa Maaytah (political and parliamentary affairs), Ali Ghezawi (labour), Mahmoud Sheyyab (health), Wajih Owais (higher education and scientific research), Yahya Kisbi (transport) and Yaseen Khayyat (environment).

Eight first-time ministers joined Mulki’s team. They are: Rida Khawaldeh (agriculture), Rami Wreikat (youth), Fawaz Irsheidat (prime ministry affairs), Wael Arabiyat (Awqaf and Islamic affairs), Yasera Ghosheh (public sector development), Lina Annab (tourism), Khawla Armouti (social development) and Khaled Hneifat, who was appointed as minister of state.

Mulki will have three deputies; Anani, Thneibat, and Judeh.

The Cabinet list included four women, Shweikeh, Ghosheh, Annab and Armouti.

The Youth Ministry, cancelled in May 2012 and replaced by the Higher Council for Youth, was reintroduced in the new government.

One of the surprises –– seen by many Jordanians and observers –– is the return of Hammad as interior minister just less than two months after he was replaced by Mazen Qadi in the last Cabinet reshuffle in Ensour’s government.

On Sunday, King Abdullah entrusted Mulki to form a new government, succeeding that of Ensour, which resigned earlier in the day after a Royal Decree was issued dissolving the Lower House of Parliament as the Kingdom prepares to hold new parliamentary elections later this year.

New government line-up

Following is the list of Prime Minister

Hani Mulki’s Cabinet members:

Hani Mulki: Prime Minister and Minister of Defence

Jawad Anani: Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply

Mohammad Thneibat: Deputy Prime Minister for Services and Minister of Education

Nasser Judeh: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates

Salameh Hammad: Minister of Interior

Hazem Nasser: Minister of Water and Irrigation

Adel Tweisi: Minister of Culture

Musa Maaytah: Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of State

Imad Fakhoury: Minister of Planning and International Cooperation

Ali Ghezawi: Minister of Labour

Mahmoud Sheyyab: Minister of Health

Wajih Owais: Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research

Yahya Kisbi: Minister of Transport

Yaseen Khayyat: Minister of Environment

Walid Masri: Minister of Municipal Affairs

Ibrahim Saif: Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources

Mohammad Momani: Minister of State for Media Affairs

Sami Halaseh: Minister of Public Works and Housing

Bassam Talhouni: Minister of Justice

Majd Shweikeh: Minister of Information and Communications Technology

Omar Malhas: Minister of Finance

Rida Khawaldeh: Minister of Agriculture

Rami Wreikat: Minister of Youth

Fawaz Irshaidat: Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs

Wael Arabiyat: Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs

Yasera Ghosheh: Minister of Public Sector Development

Lina Annab: Minister of Tourism and Antiquities

Khawla Armouti: Minister of Social Development

Khaled Hneifat: Minister of State