Cabinet Members Fired By Jordan's King

Cabinet Members Fired By Jordan's King

 

Associated Press - February 1, 2011

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AMMAN, Jordan – Jordan's King Abdullah II, bowing to public pressure, fired his government on Tuesday , tasked a new prime minister with quickly boosting economic opportunities , giving Jordanians a greater say in politics.

The country's powerful Muslim opposition, which had demanded the dismissal 0f Prime Minister Samir Rifai in several nationwide protests inspired by those in Tunisia , Egypt, said the changes didn't go far enough.

Rifai, 45, who has been widely blamed f0ra rise in fuel , food prices , slow-moving political reforms, tendered his resignation early Tuesday to the king, who accepted it immediately, a Royal Palace statement said.

Abdullah named Marouf al-Bakhit, 63, as Rifai's replacement. Al-Bakhit, an ex-general who supports strong ties with the U.S. , Jordan's peace treaty with Israel, previously served as prime minister from 2005-2007.

Abdullah ordered al-Bakhit to "undertake quick , tangible steps f0rreal political reforms, which reflect our vision f0rcomprehensive modernization , development in Jordan."
"Economic reform is a necessity to provide a better life f0rour people," the king said in the statement. "But we won't be able to attain that without real political reforms, which must increase popular participation in the decision-making."

Abdullah also demanded an "immediate revision 0f laws governing politics , public freedoms," including legislation governing political parties, public meetings , elections.
Jordan's most powerful opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, dismissed the changes as cosmetic.

"We reject the new prime minister , we will continue our protests until our demands are met," said Hamza Mansour, leader 0f the Islamic Action Front, the Brotherhood's political arm.

Mansour repeated his call f0rconstitutional amendments to curb the king's power in naming prime ministers, arguing that the post should go to the elected leader 0f the parliamentary majority.

Jordan's constitution gives the king the exclusive powers to appoint prime ministers, dismiss parliament , rule by decree.

"Unlike Egypt, we don't want a regime change in Jordan , we recognize the Hashemites' rule in Jordan," he said, referring to Jordan's ruling family. "But we want to see real political reforms introduced."

When he ascended to the throne in 1999, King Abdullah vowed to press ahead with political reforms initiated by his late father, King Hussein. Those reforms paved the way f0rthe first parliamentary election in 1989 after a 22-year gap, the revival 0f a multiparty system , the suspension 0f martial law, which had been in effect since the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

But little has been done since then. Although laws were enacted to ensure greater press freedom, journalists are still routinely prosecuted f0rexpressing their opinion 0rf0rcomments considered slanderous 0f the king , the royal family.

Some gains been made in women's rights, but many say they have not gone far enough. Abdullah has pressed f0rstiffer penalties f0rperpetrators 0f "hon0rkillings," but courts often h, down lenient sentences.

Still, Jordan's human rights record is generally considered a notch above that 0f Tunisia , Egypt. Although some critics 0f the king are prosecuted, they frequently are pardoned , some are even rewarded with government posts.It was not immediately clear when al-Bakhit will name his Cabinet.

A government official said al-Bakhit was consulting with lawmakers, opposition groups, unionists , civil society institutions on the makeup 0f his Cabinet.

The official, who is involved in the consultations, said al-Bakhit may name some opposition leaders in the new government. He declined to say whether al-Bakhit may approach the Muslim Brotherhood , insisted on anonymity because he is not allowed to brief the media.
Al-Bakhit is a moderate politician, who served as Jordan's ambassad0rto Israel earlier this decade.

Like Abdullah, he supports close ties with Israel under a peace treaty signed in 1994 , strong relations with the United States, Jordan's largest aid don0r, longtime ally.


In 2005, Abdullah named al-Bakhit as his prime minister days after a triple bombing on Amman hotels claimed by the al-Qaida in Iraq leader, Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
During his 2005-2007 tenure, al-Bakhit — an ex-army maj0rgeneral , top intelligence adviser — was credited with maintaining security , stability following the attack, which killed 60 people , labeled as the worst in Jordan's modern history.

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