New gov’t will work closely with legislature – Rifai

By Hani Hazaimeh

AMMAN – Prime Minister Samir Rifai and his new Cabinet were sworn in yesterday before His Majesty King Abdullah, becoming the 73rd government in the country’s history and the eighth since the King ascended the Throne.

Besides Rifai, 19 ministers from the outgoing government kept their portfolios and 11 new members joined Rifai’s team.

The composition of the new Cabinet, which as its predecessor includes three women, reflects a desire to secure continuity in the workings of the government and to build on the achievements of the previous administration, the prime minister-designate said.

King Abdullah on Sunday accepted the resignation of Rifai’s government and tasked him with forming a new Cabinet to continue implementing the plans outlined in the outgoing government’s Letter of Designation about a year ago.

In the Letter of Designation addressed to the prime minister-designate on Sunday, King Abdullah commended the achievements of the outgoing government in several fields, but noted that there is still a “long” way to go to fully realise the development process.

The letter underlined the need for the government to continue working transparently and systematically to achieve the goals included in the previous Letter of Designation, highlighting several priorities that the government should take into account.

“The government must also cooperate with the legislative authority to complete the decentralisation law to enable citizens to have a greater say in determining their future and identifying their development priorities,” the King said.

In his response to the King’s letter, Rifai pledged to implement the Monarch’s directives to proceed with reform and development and to move the country’s national interests forward towards a better and brighter future.

“The government realises that cooperation between all institutions, in an integrated effort free of personal interests, is key to success in achieving the national goals, overcoming the challenges facing the country, and building the future Jordan and Jordanians deserve,” Rifai said.

Therefore, he added, the government will do everything in its capacity to build a genuine, institutional partnership with the Lower House on the basis of the Constitution and laws, in order to achieve the aspirations of the country and its citizens, as well as to promote shared responsibility for the process of development and modernisation.

Rifai noted that the new government will embark on a comprehensive review to remove all obstacles facing the reform process and hindering efforts to build a better future for Jordan.

“The government will not hesitate to take firm decisions to ensure smooth progress in the reform process as instructed by Your Majesty, and will pay no attention to cynics or allow personal interests to obstruct these efforts,” Rifai said.

He added that the government will take all necessary steps to activate partisan politics in keeping with the Constitution and develop legislation related to public freedoms and human rights, as well as laws governing the performance of civil society organisations, in order to achieve political development that encourages public participation in decision making and creates a proper environment to ensure a successful overall reform process.

“In this context, and in line with the directives of Your Majesty, the government will do everything necessary to develop the media industry, and to ensure that the media practises its duties with utmost freedom and independence, while at the same time protecting society, institutions and individuals from the misconduct of some media practitioners that do harm to the nation and infringe on the rights of the people and their reputations,” the premier stressed.

Moreover, Rifai reiterated that the government will send the temporary Elections Law to Parliament for approval after making “any needed adjustments or amendments consistent with the interests of the country”, and will cooperate with the legislative authority to complete the decentralisation law, which will enable citizens to play a greater role in identifying their development priorities.

List of Ministers

Following is the complete list of the new Cabinet:

• Samir Rifai: Prime Minister and Defence Minister

• Khalid Karaki: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education

• Saad Hayel Srour: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior

• Ayman Safadi: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State and Government
Spokesperson

• Abdul Salam Abbadi: Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs

• Hisham Tal: Minister of Justice

• Suleiman Hafez: Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources

• Nasser Judeh: Minister of Foreign Affairs

• Walid Maani: Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research

• Mohammad Abu Hammour: Minister of Finance

• Tayseer Smadi: Minister of Agriculture: Minister of Agriculture

• Hala Lattouf: Minister of Social Development and Women’s Affairs

• Amer Hadidi: Minister of Industry and Trade

• Alaa Batayneh: Minister of Transport

• Musa Maaytah: Minister of Political Development

• Nabih Shuqum: Minister of Culture

• Imad Fakhoury: Minister of State for Mega-Projects

• Jafar Hassan: Minister of Planning and International Cooperation

• Ibrahim Omoush: Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs

• Mohammad Najjar: Minister of Water and Irrigation

• Mohammad Obeidat: Minister of Public Works and Housing

• Marwan Juma: Minister of Information and Communications Technology

• Ali Ayed: Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications

• Samir Murad: Minister of Labour

• Rabha Dabbas: Minister of Municipal Affairs

• Nasser Shraideh: Minister of Environment

• Fares Qatarneh: Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs

• Nesreen Barakat: Minister of Public Sector Development

• Mahmoud Sheyyab: Minister of Health

• Ahmad Tbeishat: Minister of Parliamentary Affairs

• Zeid Goussous: Minister of Tourism and Antiquities

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