Jordan Times
Wednesday, April 6, 2005
King names Badran PM
By Amy Henderson
AMMAN — Weeks-long anticipation of a government reshuffle on Monday turned into
speculation on the constitution of a new government under the premiership of
Adnan Badran, who was instructed by His Majesty King Abdullah to accelerate the
pace of reform and institutionalise the reform process.
Badran, 69, is a biologist by training and a
pedagogue by profession. Before becoming president of Philadelphia University in
1998, he served as UNESCO deputy director general in Paris.
He held several prestigious posts at the University of Jordan before his
appointment as president of Yarmouk University, a position that he held from
1976-1986.
The government change was made amidst popular frustration with the former
government's reluctance to pursue political reform and development and with its
diplomatic gaffes that disturbed Jordan's inter-Arab relations.
The government of former Prime Minister Faisal Fayez, formed in October 2003,
was assigned with advancing a political development plan that would revamp
Jordan's highly iniquitous and controversial electoral law and produce an
“advanced” political parties law in collaboration with civil society.
A new electoral law remains outstanding, while a new political parties law
surfaced only two weeks ago.
It was distributed to civil society organisations for discussion and comment
just weeks after the government introduced to Parliament a unilaterally drafted
law on the professional associations that would curb their influence as a
political force in the country.
Meanwhile, the government's decision to withdraw Jordan's envoy to Iraq
escalated tensions with the neighbouring country over its claims that a
Jordanian was responsible for a suicide bombing in the Iraqi city of Hilla.
Shortly after, the government's indelicate revival of the Arab Peace Initiative
at the Algiers summit invited accusations from key Arab states that Jordan was
pushing for “normalisation” with Israel.
“There's strong resentment on the street,” said a political analyst. “There have
been a lot of initiatives — administrative reform, political development, Jordan
First, decentralisation. Nothing moved, and things stopped making sense. Public
opinion was also dismayed by the [criticism] of Jordan from the region and
beyond.”
It has also become increasingly obvious that Cabinet members were also having
difficulty maintaining cohesion among themselves and with personalities within
the Royal Court on key issues, most dramatically illustrated by the resignation
of Bassem Awadallah, who resigned as planning minister in February.
In the Letter of Designation, King Abdullah urged Badran to select a
“homogenous” team of efficient ministers to accelerate and institutionalise the
political reform process. And in an unusual Royal Decree that followed the
Designation Letter, the Monarch instructed secretaries general of all government
ministries to assume ministerial duties until a new Cabinet is formed,
indicating that the King expects the new prime minister to weigh his options
carefully as he selects his team.
The tone and the brevity of the letter were also departures from the norm, which
indicates that the King feels “we have no more time to waste,” said a senior
official. “He believes we must accelerate the pace of reform and move forward on
the National Agenda.”
Although the announcement of the Cabinet is expected to take longer than usual,
informed sources have indicated that some ministers of the Fayez government —
notably Minister of Water Hazem Nasser and Minister of Education Khaled Touqan —
will retain their posts, while Awadallah is tipped to return as finance minister
and possibly assume duties as deputy prime minister. Badran is said to be
considering Farouq Kassrawi, an experienced diplomat and head of the Institute
for Diplomacy, for the post of foreign minister.
The announcement of the government change was accompanied by a reorganisation
within the Royal Court as well. The court announced yesterday that Fayez will
return to the familiar territory of the Royal Court, where he served as chief of
protocol and Royal Court minister. Marwan Muasher, former deputy prime minister,
has been appointed as Royal Court minister, replacing Samir Rifai. Additionally,
Rania Atallah, former director of Her Majesty Queen Rania's office, has been
appointed as head of the court's media and information department, replacing
Sima Bahous.