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New ministers take oath as Mulki reshuffles team

Premier says new stage to focus on economy stimulation

By JT - Feb 26,2018 - Last updated at Feb 26,2018

Ministers line up to take oath before His Majesty King Abdullah as a government reshuffle was endorsed yesterday (Photo courtesy of Royal Court)

AMMAN — A Royal Decree was issued on Sunday approving a reshuffle in Prime Minister Hani Mulki’s government.

The shakeup, which came upon the premier’s recommendation, included nine incoming ministers, two of whom have become deputy prime ministers.

The ministers who joined the government included Jafar Hassan, who was appointed as deputy prime minister and minister of state for economic affairs, and Jamal Sarayreh who was appointed as deputy prime minister and minister of state for prime ministry affairs.

Other members of the team also included Samir Mubaidin as interior minister, Abdul Nasser Abul Bassal as awqaf and Islamic affairs minister, Nayef Fayez as minister of environment, Ahmad Oweidi as minister of state for legal affairs, Bashir Rawashdeh as youth minister, Samir Murad as labour minister.

Ali Ghezawi, who was the labour ministry, changed portfolio from labour to water and irrigation.

The ministers were sworn in before His Majesty King Abdullah at Al Husseiniya Palace in the presence of Mulki and Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh. 

Earlier in the day, a Royal Decree was issued accepting the resignation of the following ministers: Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs Mamdouh Abbadi; Bisher Khasawneh who was minister of state for legal affair; Wael Arabiyat, minister of awqaf and Islamic affairs; Yaseen Khayyat, minister of environment; Hazem El Nasser, minister of water and irrigation; Hadithah Khreisha, minister of youth; and Ghaleb Zu’bi, minister of interior.

Prime Minister Hani Mulki said in a press statement to Jordan Television that the government achieved a “huge success” in the financial reform process during the past two years, and took measures to narrow the state budget deficit, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

Mulki said that the step that will follow the financial reform measures will be working to stimulate the economy, with a focus on curbing the rising public debt, through realistic implementation of the National Programme to Stimulate Economy and to increase growth rate by 2-4 per cent. 

The premier said that the second focus of the government will be enhancing the rule of law, noting that the Cabinet finalised laws related to developing the judiciary.

The government’s agenda will also focus on youth as a main pillar of the Jordanian society’s cohesion, as they comprise a majority of the population. This necessitates developing youth programmes that jave to include political and economic education and not only sports, he said.

Later in the day, the Council of Ministers held a session, in which it reshaped the ministerial committees and the economic team.

The economic team will be chaired by deputy prime minister and minister of state for economic affairs with the membership of ministers of planning and international cooperation, labour, transport, public works, ICT, public development, finance, tourism, agriculture, trade and industry, education, energy, investment affairs and environment.

 

Cabinet list

Following is the list of Prime Minister Hani Mulki’s Cabinet members after Sunday’s reshuffle:

Hani Mulki: Prime Minister and Minister of Defence

Jamal Sarayreh: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs

Jafar Hassan: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Economic Affairs

Samir Mubaidin: Minister of Interior

Ayman Safadi: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates

Ali Ghezawi: Minister of Water and Irrigation

Adel Tweisi: Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research 

Musa Maaytah: Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of State 

Nabih Shuqum: Minister of Culture

Imad Fakhoury: Minister of Planning and International Cooperation

Samir Murad: Minister of Labour

Mahmoud Sheyyab: Minister of Health 

Hala Lattouf: Minister of Social Development 

Nayef Fayez: Minister of Environment 

Walid Masri: Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of Transport 

Saleh Kharabseh: Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources

Mohammad Momani: Minister of State for Media Affairs

Sami Halasa: Minister of Public Works and Housing

Majd Shweikeh: Minister of ICT and Minister of Public Sector Development 

Omar Malhas: Minister of Finance 

Abdul Nasser Abul Bassal: Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs

Lina Annab: Minister of Tourism and Antiquities

Khaled Hneifat: Minister of Agriculture 

Ahmad Oweidi: Minister of State for Legal Affairs

Yarub Qudah: Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply

Awad Abu Jarad: Minister of Justice

Omar Razzaz: Minister of Education

Bashir Rawashdeh: Minister of Youth

Muhannad Shehadeh: Minister of State for Investment Affairs

See Profiles of new ministers 

 

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