New Jordanian government sworn in amid pro-reform protests

[News_Editor]

New Jordanian government sworn in amid pro-reform protests

2011-10-25 02:15:33 GMT+7 (ICT)

AMMAN (BNO NEWS) -- Jordanian King Abdullah II on Monday issued a decree approving the formation of a new government headed by Prime Minister Awn Al-khasawneh, Ammon News reported.

The newly-appointed 30-member cabinet, which includes 16 ministers appointed to their respective portfolios for the first time, were sworn-in before King Abdullah II, among other royal family members, at Raghadan Palace in the Royal Hashemite Court. This is the country's third government this year alone amid pro-reform protests.

Last week, King Abdullah II asked Awn Al-khasawneh to form a new government after Primer Minister Marouf Bakhit submitted his resignation during his second term in office which he had held since February 1st. Khasawneh, who worked as chief of the royal court between 1996 and 1998, said in his first statement to the press that he left his post with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to return to Jordan "to serve the country in this crucial time."

Prime Minister Khasawneh had declared during his selection process that his first condition in considering selection of his ministers is "integrity in the first place, followed by the geographic distribution factor." According to Ammon News, most of the new ministers are clear of "corruption suspicions" in the minds of Jordanian public opinion.

Jordanian protesters had been demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit's government for its failure to carry out political reforms. They have also been demanding the trial of corrupt officials and have stressed that they will continue protesting until they witness "real and tangible measures" to combat corruption.

In July, Jordan's King Abdullah II issued a decree approving a cabinet reshuffle in Bakhit's government. This was the first reshuffle of the cabinet, which was formed in February after protesters called for the resignation of then-current prime minister Samir Rifai and his government. The previous government was blamed for price hikes, excessive taxation, unemployment, and difficult economic conditions.

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