- Title: JORDAN: Jordanians sceptical after new cabinet sworn in
- Date: 11th February 2011
- Summary: VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES WITH PHOTOGRAPHS OF NEW CABINET
- Embargoed: 26th February 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Jordan, Jordan
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA1I8N4813CWLLO1NCR74W67L8O
- Story Text: Analysts and opposition parties say Jordan's cabinet changes do not meet people's expectations.
Jordanians reacted with skepticism on Thursday (February 10) a day after the new cabinet was sworn in.
Behind the calm of Amman's streets today there are tensions that saw anti-government protests two weeks inspired by the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.
Although people did not come out in such large numbers as in Tunis or Cairo, Jordan's government responded swiftly by announcing it would reshuffle its cabinet.
U.S. ally King Abdullah appointed Prime Minister Maruf Bakhit last week to replace Samir Rifai.
Bakhit is a conservative former premier drawn from the ranks of the powerful security establishment.
He is known for his hostility to the private sector and formed a government dominated by conservative politicians. The previous administration was made up of Western-leaning pro-business reformists.
The 27-member cabinet, however, has retained the key interior, foreign affairs and finance portfolios in the previous administration.
Political analyst Mohammad Masri says the new cabinet is not representative of the various political strands in Jordan and too one-sided adding that the people who took to the streets demanding radical change would be disappointed.
"The new government came below the expectations. It looks like that it represents one segment, or one current of the Jordanian society. This segment that is defined as the traditional bureaucracy, despite the fact that a minister or two who came from the critical space. However, still the government over all, did not meet the expectations of the Jordanian people who are calling for a change in policies, who are calling for an overall political reform," said Masri.
Many Jordanians hope the newly appointed government will implement reform to help ease a dire economic situation exasperated by worldwide economic downturn.
Rani Sameer, a citizen living in Amman, says the government is merely playing musical chairs.
"Only names have been changed in the government, but does changing names mean a change in policy? Would the government tackle problems that led the previous government to resign? We will wait for awhile for the new government to see what happens, but until now we cannot say there is a fundamental change," said Jordanian citizen Rani Sameer.
Bakhit's choice also reflects a traditional priority of the Hashemite royal family to placate East Bank Jordanians, the country's original inhabitants. These East Bank Jordanians hold a tight grip on political power, over the interests of the Palestinians, who form the majority of the country's 7 million population.
Palestinians depend on jobs in the private sector and on remittances from relatives in the Gulf unlike many East Bankers who have enjoyed a generally higher level of state jobs and subsidies. They were alarmed by the threat to their benefits from a sharp economic downturn and from economic liberalisation promoted by Rifai.
Bakhit has spent the last week holding broad-based consultations with civic groups, opposition groups and labour and business leaders. He said his government will ease censorship and curbs on political activity and public freedoms.
The Islmaic Action Front (IAF), the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood is the most influential party in Jordan. Islamist leaders at the IAF party headquarters fear Bakhit will not be able to keep to his word and that the new ministers will not allow for the kind of political diversity that would give them more influence in the country's running.
Ali Abul Sukkar, president of the IAF shura council, the highest decision making body in the party, said the new government is dominated by ministers more concerned about security than political freedom.
"The new government, although it has some positive aspects, does not meet expectations of Jordanians. There are some political ministers, but there are also ministers who provoke conflicts and remain attached to martial law mentality and we have already experienced them. There is also some businessmen. The bet is on how serious this government will be to take serious steps to implement genuine and quick reform at the same time," said Abul Sukkar, whose party boycotted last year's parliament elections in protest against what the group described as lack of genuine reform.
The Muslim Brotherhood, strident opponents of Israel and U.S. policies in the region, want an end to a public gathering law that obliges political parties to get prior approval from the authorities before holding rallies.
After seeing his cabinet sworn in at the royal palace, Bakhit promised to carry out political reform by introducing a new elections law. He has vowed to take serious measure against corruption. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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