Jordan Times
Monday, November 28, 2005
King swears in new gov't
By Alia Shukri Hamzeh
AMMAN Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and his
23-member Cabinet mandated with political and socio-economic reform as well as
a tougher anti-terror fight were sworn-in Sunday before His Majesty King
Abdullah.
Also Sunday, a Royal Decree summoned Parliament to convene in an ordinary
session on Thursday, December 1st.
The two events set the stage for long-awaited action by the executive and
legislature on advancing the country's democratic process and energising its
economy.
The new government, as constitutionally stipulated, will first have to seek a
vote of confidence by the 110-member Parliament, which has been on a summer
recess.
The Cabinet, a mixture of technocrats and politicians, includes nine ministers
who served in the former Cabinet of Adnan Badran, four public figures who
previously held ministerial posts and 10 newcomers representing public and
private sector as well as the civil service.
Key appointments indicate that the government's list of priorities entail
overhauling the public sector and pushing forth with the country's National
Agenda, that is to set the course for the Kingdom for the next 10 years.
It is also seen as one that will protect the country from terror attacks, in the
wake of the November 9 triple bombings that rocked Amman and killed 60 people.
The evil terrorist attacks on our beloved capital Amman will increase our
determination to move forward in our preemptive war against terrorism and the
culture of apostasy, Bakhit, 58, said in a letter to the King following the
swearing-in ceremony.
But the new premier a retired major general said the government would
maintain a balance between security and freedoms saying we will not allow one
to dominate the other.
Bakhit is the fifth prime minister to serve under King Abdullah.
His government takes over the sizeable task of putting into practice the
recommendations of the 2,500-page National Agenda that was submitted to King
Abdullah on Wednesday.
Insisting reforms were no longer a choice but rather a necessity, Bakhit also
pledged to push the process saying it will be a comprehensive and integrated
programme. Bakhit also holds the defence portfolio.
Among the first tasks on the ministers' plates include introducing new laws
governing parliamentary elections, political parties and anti-terrorism.
A top priority will continue to be the fight against poverty and unemployment.
Key portfolios include the ministries of interior, foreign and finance which
have been assigned to former public figures.
Former Central Bank Governor Ziad Fariz, an economist and a reformist as well as
a good planner, assumes the post of finance minister. He brings to the table his
experience as a two-time minister of planning, and minister of industry and
trade.
He is a brilliant figure and a strong decision-maker and is the right person
for the post considering his track record in the public sector as well as his
impeccable background, said Deputy Mamdouh Abbadi.
According to Abbadi, the main feature of the new Cabinet mainly ministers
assuming the sensitive portfolios of finance, government performance, interior
and foreign affairs was that they are not corrupt and they are real doers
rather than slackers.
Abdul Ilah Khatib, 52, an academic political figure who held the Foreign
Ministry portfolio between 1998-2002, returns to the post.
Eid Fayez, a former minister of labour, heads the Interior Ministry, and former
Companies Comptroller and head of the Audit Bureau Salem Khazaaleh takes over as
minister of public reforms and government performance.
Khazaaleh's role in the restructuring and development of the public sector will
be significant, Abbadi noted.
Nine portfolios, namely the economic team including planning, and industry and
trade remained unchanged. They include, the only woman minister Suhair Al-Ali,
who retained her post as planning minister. The three other women Cabinet
ministers were replaced.
Most of those who remained are deemed good team players and professional
figures, who were not associated with the controversy and lack of public trust
that marred some of their other colleagues, said analyst and columnist Bassem
Sakijha.
Sakijha said the new Cabinet list was comforting and reassuring, adding it
combined politicians and technocrats.
Referring to newcomer, Minister of Political Development and Parliamentary
Affairs Sabri Rbeihat, Sakijha said he was a good selection for the upcoming
political reform process.
Rbeihat is a sociologist and an active figure in civil society issues. His
multifaceted background in education, demography and public administration is
seen as an asset to the post.
Observers also believe that the Bakhit Cabinet comprises a fair geographic
representation of the population.
It's a carefully calculated Cabinet with fair representation of all from the
north, south and centre. It also includes around seven members of Palestinian
origin, a Christian and even a minister of Kurdish origin, Sakijha added.
Badran faced problems in Parliament and with the public upon forming his first
Cabinet because it was perceived unbalanced in its representation of the entire
Kingdom. He was forced to reshuffle twice.
Former minister of information in the 1990s, Nasser Judeh is tipped as the next
government spokesman.
Cabinet members
Following are the members of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit's Cabinet, sworn-in
before His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday:
Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Marouf Bakhit
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ziad Fariz
Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdul Ilah Khatib
Minister of Municipal Affairs Nader Thuheirat
Minister of Interior Eid Fayez
Minister of Public Works and Housing Hosni Abu Gheida
Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
Khalid Touqan
Minister of Justice Abed Shakhanbeh
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Azmi Khreisat
Minister of Health Saeed Darwazeh
Minister of Transport Saud Nseirat
Minister of Industry and Trade Sharif Zu'bi
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Suhair Al-Ali
Minister of Environment Khalid Irani
Minister of Labour Bassem Salem
Minister of Public Sector Reform Salem Khazaaleh
Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Abdul Fattah Salah
Minister of Water and Irrigation Thafer Alem
Minister of Agriculture Akef Zu'bi
Minister of Culture Adel Tweisi
Minister of Political Development and Parliamentary Affairs Sabri Rbeihat
Minister of Social Development Suleiman Tarawneh
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Munir Nassar
Minister of Information and Communications Technology Omar Kurdi