New ministers take oath as Mulki reshuffles team

AMMAN — A Royal Decree was issued on Sunday approving a reshuffle in Prime Minister Hani Mulki’s government.

The shakeup, which came upon the premier’s recommendation, included nine incoming ministers, two of whom have become deputy prime ministers.

The ministers who joined the government included Jafar Hassan, who was appointed as deputy prime minister and minister of state for economic affairs, and Jamal Sarayreh who was appointed as deputy prime minister and minister of state for prime ministry affairs.

Other members of the team also included Samir Mubaidin as interior minister, Abdul Nasser Abul Bassal as awqaf and Islamic affairs minister, Nayef Fayez as minister of environment, Ahmad Oweidi as minister of state for legal affairs, Bashir Rawashdeh as youth minister, Samir Murad as labour minister.

Ali Ghezawi, who was the labour ministry, changed portfolio from labour to water and irrigation.

The ministers were sworn in before His Majesty King Abdullah at Al Husseiniya Palace in the presence of Mulki and Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh. 

Earlier in the day, a Royal Decree was issued accepting the resignation of the following ministers: Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs Mamdouh Abbadi; Bisher Khasawneh who was minister of state for legal affair; Wael Arabiyat, minister of awqaf and Islamic affairs; Yaseen Khayyat, minister of environment; Hazem El Nasser, minister of water and irrigation; Hadithah Khreisha, minister of youth; and Ghaleb Zu’bi, minister of interior.

Prime Minister Hani Mulki said in a press statement to Jordan Television that the government achieved a “huge success” in the financial reform process during the past two years, and took measures to narrow the state budget deficit, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

Mulki said that the step that will follow the financial reform measures will be working to stimulate the economy, with a focus on curbing the rising public debt, through realistic implementation of the National Programme to Stimulate Economy and to increase growth rate by 2-4 per cent. 

The premier said that the second focus of the government will be enhancing the rule of law, noting that the Cabinet finalised laws related to developing the judiciary.

The government’s agenda will also focus on youth as a main pillar of the Jordanian society’s cohesion, as they comprise a majority of the population. This necessitates developing youth programmes that jave to include political and economic education and not only sports, he said.

Later in the day, the Council of Ministers held a session, in which it reshaped the ministerial committees and the economic team.

The economic team will be chaired by deputy prime minister and minister of state for economic affairs with the membership of ministers of planning and international cooperation, labour, transport, public works, ICT, public development, finance, tourism, agriculture, trade and industry, education, energy, investment affairs and environment.

See Profiles of new ministers