Kumar Bahukhandi
Amman: Jordan’s new Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan and members of his cabinet took oath before King Abdullah II on Wednesday September 18 . Hassan has previously served as director of the king’s office, deputy prime minister for economic affairs and minister of planning and international cooperation. He was tasked with forming a cabinet after the resignation of former Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh and his government on Sunday September 15 following the 20th parliamentary election.
According to news agency Xinhua, the new government includes five women ministers and nine people are holding ministerial posts for the first time. In this new government, Ayman Safadi has been appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. Saleh Kharabsheh has been appointed as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Abdulhakim Al-Shibli as Finance Minister, Mohammad Al-Momani as Government Communications Minister. Zeina Toukan has been appointed as Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Raed Abu Saud as Minister of Water and Irrigation and Mothanna Gharibeh as Minister of Investment.
In a letter appointing Hassan as prime minister on Sunday September 15 , the king directed the new government to make all efforts to support the Palestinians and protect their rights. The king also said the government should work with the House of Representatives to strengthen the foundations of democracy and its concepts and highlighted the importance of continuing the kingdom’s prudent fiscal policies to maintain economic stability and control debt in the face of regional and international challenges.
