PM AND CABINET RESIGN; MINOR RESHUFFLE IN THE WORKS

S E C R E T AMMAN 004491 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2013 TAGS: PGOV PREL ETRD PINR JO SUBJECT: PM AND CABINET RESIGN; MINOR RESHUFFLE IN THE WORKS REF: AMMAN 04332 Classified By: CDA DAVID HALE FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) -------------- - AS EXPECTED...KING ASKS PM TO FORM NEW CABINET -------------- - ¶1. (S) PM Abul Ragheb on July 19 submitted the resignation of his cabinet. King Abdullah on July 20 asked him to form a new Cabinet. In a conversation with the Ambassador on July 13 (see Reftel),the King said this reshuffle would be minor and entail the change of just a few ministers. New Lower House Speaker Srour told the Charge on July 21 that he had consulted with the PM on the new government. The PM told him the new cabinet would have only 4-5 changes (per reftel, the King has in mind an even lower number). The PM can submit the new government to Parliament for approval within 30 days; and there is speculation he will do so within a day or two. Srour expected 4-5 days of floor debate in the Lower House before a vote. -------------- FEW CHANGES EXPECTED -------------- ¶2. (C) According to Srour, the PM said he would split the Tourism and Transport portfolios--currently headed by one minister. A trade contact told Econoff that Finance Minister Secretary General Mohammad Abu Hammour will replace Trade SIPDIS Minister Saleh al-Bashir. According to a senior official at the Ministry of Information, Nabil al-Sharif, editor of the Arabic daily al-Dustour, will become the new Information Minister. The Jordan Times reported on July 21 that Foreign Minister Muasher, Justice Minister Faris Nabulsi, Finance Minister Marto, Planning Minister Awadullah, and Water and Irrigation Minister Nasser would retain their Cabinet positions. The local Arabic press speculated that Mohammad Halaiqa--who served previously as the Minister of National Economy--might return as Deputy Prime Minister and that Khalid Touqan, the current Minister of Education, might be departing. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶3. (C) Post expects no policy shifts to result from the reshuffle and only a small number of relatively minor Cabinet positions to change hands. HALE