Jordan Times
Sunday, November 5, 2006
Cabinet Reshuffle Expected this Month
AMMAN (JT) — His Majesty King Abdullah has approved a planned Cabinet reshuffle, responding to a request by Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit.
Government Spokesperson Nasser Judeh told Jordan Television (JTV) on Friday that such a request is unprecedented in Jordan’s political history, adding the reshuffle is expected before Parliament’s ordinary session opens on November 28.
The reshuffle is not about persons, Judeh said, but rather a matter of government programmes and policies.
He insisted there is no “special agenda” behind the reshuffle, responding to speculative news reports claiming that the move is designed to “prolong the life of the incumbent government.”
The government spokes- person said assessment of the performance of individual ministries, as well as programmes being implemented by the government, is an ongoing process.
Referring to parliamentary elections, Judeh said current debate over this issue was not stirred by this government, but has been longstanding. He added there was no point in discussing elections at this stage, with the new parliamentary session pending, and all the important laws expected to be discussed by the lawmakers.
Constitutional powers pertaining to the timing of the elections are vested in the King, he explained.
The last parliamentary elections in the country took place on June 17, 2003, and the Lower House term will end in 2007, but according to Article 68 of the Constitution, “The King may, by a Royal Decree, prolong the term of the Chamber for a period of not less than one year and not more than two years.”
The same article stipulates that a “general election shall take place during the four months preceding the end of the term of the Chamber. If the election has not taken place by the end of the term of the Chamber or if such election is delayed for any reason, the Chamber shall remain in office until the election of a new Chamber.”
Judeh told JTV that the government would remain committed to its policy of transparency, especially regarding corruption cases, adding that the authorities would “make public every single [corruption] cases whether small or big.”
He said the coming stage will witness “institutionalisation” of the fight against corruption, after the Lower House passed the Anti-Corruption Commission Law, among other legislation dubbed “National Integrity Laws.” These also include the Financial Disclosure Law under which senior officials are required to declare their assets before they assume their posts.