Jordan: King Abdullah Appoints New Cabinet

Jordan’s King Abdullah II appointed a new 30-member cabinet, which includes former leader of the central bank Umayya Toukan as the incoming finance minister. Abdullah said he hoped this appointment, in addition to increased social spending, would help ease some of the country’s economic woes including a budget deficit and unemployment: ”This year’s events have opened the way to positive change, but in many places, also created painful economic dislocations. Strategies are urgently needed.” While most ministers in the cabinet are new, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh remained in his post.

The new cabinet does not include any members of the Islamic Action Front, Jordan’s main opposition group, whose spokesman Jamil Abu Baker said Monday, “Conditions aren’t ripe” for the IAF “to join the government.” “The reform agenda does not match our aspirations and demands,” he added.

The inauguration of this “reform-minded” cabinet came one week after Awn Khasawneh was appointed Prime Minister.