JORDAN LOOKS TO REHABILITATE MUNICIPAL SECTOR WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 004891 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/05/2013 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM SOCI JO SUBJECT: JORDAN LOOKS TO REHABILITATE MUNICIPAL SECTOR WITH CASH, TECHNOCRATS REF: A. AMMAN 4737 ¶B. AMMAN 4629 ¶C. AMMAN 4251 ¶D. AMMAN 4189 Classified By: A/PolCouns Eric Carlson, per Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) In line with GOJ's new Municipal Elections Law, which empowers the GOJ to appoint all mayors and up to 50 percent of the seats in the country's 99 municipal councils, the Cabinet recently announced the names of mayors and non-elected municipal council members (see reftels for more information on the municipal electoral process and results). Seeking to improve service delivery nationwide, the government has appointed an engineer as mayor in every community. These officials will have at their disposal supplemental government funds, totaling more than 50% of combined annual municipal budgets, with which to finance municipal activities. End Summary. -------------- All Mayors Engineers -------------- ¶2. (U) Days after Jordanians went to the polls July 26-27 to elect roughly half of their municipal council members, the government appointed a cadre of technocrats to fill the remaining municipal council seats and all mayoral offices in each of Jordan's 99 towns and villages. Every mayor appointed holds a degree in engineering, including three that have doctorates. One woman was selected to be mayor of the Hassa Municipality in the Tafileh Governorate. In Amman, the Cabinet gave incumbent mayor Nidal Hadid a new term and announced the names of 20 Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) council appointees, two of whom are women. -------------- Additional Resources for Local Government -------------- ¶3. (U) The government has announced an ambitious three-year plan to enhance the performance of the country's 99 municipalities and the services they offer citizens. The government's JD54 million (about $77 million) injection into local coffers will "be in addition to the municipalities' annual budgets of nearly JD100 million" ($142 million),said Municipal Affairs Minister Abdul Razzaq Tbeishat in an August 1 press account. ¶4. (U) The plan is a joint program of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the Planning Ministry, with the goal of continuing "efforts to assist municipalities in offering efficient services to citizens," announced Tbeishat. Annual budgets will support critical infrastructure rehabilitation projects, including road repair, street lighting, and the clean-up of public spaces, while the additional JD54 million will be used for more specialized programs. These could include the construction of commercial and industrial zones, as well as produce markets that will spur economic growth. Tbeishat also said the supplemental funds would go toward the construction of public gardens, complete with library and IT facilities for children. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) Despite the public's bland reaction to the latest municipal elections cycle, the government seems eager to deliver on promises of additional resources for local use as tangible proof of its willingness to invest in municipal infrastructure and human development. The pace of providing improved services and public resources will be key to win the support of a population long tired of an ailing municipal affairs sector. As for the appointment of engineer-mayors, the government appears to be following through on its commitment to install qualified and service-oriented professionals in municipal councils across the country. Of course, an engineering degree is not enough to guarantee the end of the corruption and cronyism common to many municipal governments. Yet, the appointments may appease naysayers who, on the one hand, brand the appointment of local officials as anti-democratic but, on the other, prefer services over politics. GNEHM