New gov’t expected to take oath of office Wednesday

AMMAN – The new government of prime minister-designate is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday with a “good number” of members of the former government of Abdullah Ensour expected to keep their portfolios, informed sources told The Jordan Times on Tuesday. 

The sources said that Mulki has completed consultations that lasted three days to form his first government. 

On Sunday, His Majesty 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 the same day dissolving the Lower House of Parliament as the Kingdom prepares to hold new parliamentary elections later this year. 

Sources said that former Royal Court Chief Jawad Anani, who also held several ministerial posts, would be appointed deputy prime minister, to be in charge of overseeing the economic portfolio. 

From the government of Ensour, the sources said several names were expected to remain including former ministers of education, Mohammad Thenibat, foreign affairs, Nasser Judeh, planning and international cooperation, Imad Fakhoury, water and irrigation Hazem Nasser, and former minister of municipal affairs, Walid Masri. 

Among the newcomers, the sources said Musa Maaytah may hold the political and parliamentary affairs portfolio and Adel Tweisi may hold the culture portfolio.  Both have served in the same posts previously.