No time to waste to address problems

Now that Prime Minister Hani Mulki and his Cabinet members have been sworn in, they should waste no time but start implementing His Majesty King Abdullah’s policies, as outlined in the Letter of Designation, in earnest.

The number one priority should be preparing the groundwork for holding parliamentary elections on the basis of the new Elections Law, which was painstakingly drafted.

Holding free and fair elections is a paramount policy consideration for, on its basis, the aspirations of the people of Jordan can be best guaranteed.

His Majesty the King urged continued strengthening of the democratic process in the Kingdom, which should be up to contemporary standards and norms.

To be sure, the new government will have other major tasks to perform as well, including, as the new prime minister has already stated, to serve the people of the country by improving the national economy.

The fact that the new Cabinet has a long list of members who had served in the government of prime minister Abdullah Ensour suggests that there is an element of continuity in the policymaking process, which is absolutely needed in the march of any country.

Key Cabinet ministers, including those holding the portfolio of foreign affairs, education, planning and international cooperation, water and municipal affairs have retained their positions.

This is indeed a positive feature that bodes well for the steady reforms in the country.

Unfortunately, there are only four women ministers this time as well. Men still outnumber women by far in the new Cabinet, for no obvious reason.

This imbalance will have to be rectified, hopefully by the next government; representatives of half of the country’s population should be consulted, for they are no less capable of formulating policies than their male counterparts.

It is hoped that the new government will address the woes of the nation, the economy first and foremost, that crucial issues of unemployment and poverty will not be pushed to the back burner.