Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04AMMAN8794
2004-10-26 08:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 008794
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM JO
SUBJECT: KING RESHUFFLES CABINET
REF: A. AMMAN 8600
B. AMMAN 7862
C. AMMAN 7336
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
-------
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 008794
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM JO
SUBJECT: KING RESHUFFLES CABINET
REF: A. AMMAN 8600
B. AMMAN 7862
C. AMMAN 7336
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The long-awaited cabinet reshuffle took place October
24 in line with expectations (ref A). Only three ministers
were replaced, while seven other new ministers were added.
The new government retains, even sharpens, a division between
the reformist wing and conservative East Bankers.
Biographical information on all new ministers will follow
(septel). End Summary.
--------------
The Highlights
--------------
2. (C) After months of government-fueled speculation, King
Abdullah finally swore in a reshuffled cabinet in an evening
ceremony October 24. The number of cabinet ministers
increased from 21 to 28 as combined ministerial portfolios
were separated and two new ministries created. Despite the
King's public criticism of the old cabinet's performance,
only three ministers resigned, most notably former Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade, Mohammad
Halaiqa (for non-performance reasons). This modest change
probably reflects the King's predilection for avoiding
personal confrontation as he left some well-known duds in
office, including Minister of Labor Amjad Majali. Asma Khader
retained the spokesman role, despite her frequent gaffes. The
number of women in the cabinet has increased from three to
four. Of the ten new ministers, only one, Foreign Minister
Hani al-Mulki, has ever served in a cabinet before.
3. (C) A few of the new ministers have had positive
interactions with post in the past. Minister of Industry and
Trade Ahmad Hindawi has evinced a strong desire for economic
cooperation with the United States, but in his preceding job
as Director General of the Jordan Institution for Standards
and Metrology has not had the ability to deliver. He comes
from a family with a strong political background; his father
once served as Deputy Prime Minister. Minister of Transport
Saud Nsairat demonstrated strong pro-American sympathies and
great competence in his former position as Vice Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He may have some input in his new
post on potential deals with Boeing, but in general his
position carries little meaningful authority. Nsairat was
most likely granted the appointment as a consolation prize
for losing out in recent political maneuverings in the senior
ranks of the Jordanian Armed Forces. Minister of Environment
Yousef Shureiqi has shown commitment to environmental
standards that fit well with our bilateral relationship,
including the Free Trade Agreement.
--------------
A Divided House
--------------
4. (C) The new cabinet line-up represents a modest boost for
the reform agenda as former Minister of Foreign Affairs
Marwan Muasher, a well-known reformer, has been appointed
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Prime
Ministry Affairs and Government Performance (ref A). Key U.S.
partners on reform - Planning Minister Awadallah, Justice
Minister Bashir, and Education Minister Touqan - retained
their jobs. At the same time, nine of the ten new ministers
come from the ranks of conservative East Bank elements. This
structure will impede an identifiably weak PM Fayez as he
tries to carry out the King's conflicting agendas of reform
coupled with a crackdown on opposition, particularly the
Islamists. The cabinet again reflects the competition between
the main power-brokers of Jordanian politics as GID Director
Sa'ad Kheir and Royal Court Minister Samir Rifai call for a
hardline approach to opposition, while PM Fayez takes a more
conciliatory approach to avoid alienating sectors of
Jordanian society. Given the King's strong desire for action
from PM Fayez's government and the conflicted nature of the
cabinet, we do not expect this government to last long.
5. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at
http://www.state.sgov/p/nea/amman/ or access the site through
the Department of State's SIPRNET home page.
HALE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM JO
SUBJECT: KING RESHUFFLES CABINET
REF: A. AMMAN 8600
B. AMMAN 7862
C. AMMAN 7336
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The long-awaited cabinet reshuffle took place October
24 in line with expectations (ref A). Only three ministers
were replaced, while seven other new ministers were added.
The new government retains, even sharpens, a division between
the reformist wing and conservative East Bankers.
Biographical information on all new ministers will follow
(septel). End Summary.
--------------
The Highlights
--------------
2. (C) After months of government-fueled speculation, King
Abdullah finally swore in a reshuffled cabinet in an evening
ceremony October 24. The number of cabinet ministers
increased from 21 to 28 as combined ministerial portfolios
were separated and two new ministries created. Despite the
King's public criticism of the old cabinet's performance,
only three ministers resigned, most notably former Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade, Mohammad
Halaiqa (for non-performance reasons). This modest change
probably reflects the King's predilection for avoiding
personal confrontation as he left some well-known duds in
office, including Minister of Labor Amjad Majali. Asma Khader
retained the spokesman role, despite her frequent gaffes. The
number of women in the cabinet has increased from three to
four. Of the ten new ministers, only one, Foreign Minister
Hani al-Mulki, has ever served in a cabinet before.
3. (C) A few of the new ministers have had positive
interactions with post in the past. Minister of Industry and
Trade Ahmad Hindawi has evinced a strong desire for economic
cooperation with the United States, but in his preceding job
as Director General of the Jordan Institution for Standards
and Metrology has not had the ability to deliver. He comes
from a family with a strong political background; his father
once served as Deputy Prime Minister. Minister of Transport
Saud Nsairat demonstrated strong pro-American sympathies and
great competence in his former position as Vice Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He may have some input in his new
post on potential deals with Boeing, but in general his
position carries little meaningful authority. Nsairat was
most likely granted the appointment as a consolation prize
for losing out in recent political maneuverings in the senior
ranks of the Jordanian Armed Forces. Minister of Environment
Yousef Shureiqi has shown commitment to environmental
standards that fit well with our bilateral relationship,
including the Free Trade Agreement.
--------------
A Divided House
--------------
4. (C) The new cabinet line-up represents a modest boost for
the reform agenda as former Minister of Foreign Affairs
Marwan Muasher, a well-known reformer, has been appointed
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Prime
Ministry Affairs and Government Performance (ref A). Key U.S.
partners on reform - Planning Minister Awadallah, Justice
Minister Bashir, and Education Minister Touqan - retained
their jobs. At the same time, nine of the ten new ministers
come from the ranks of conservative East Bank elements. This
structure will impede an identifiably weak PM Fayez as he
tries to carry out the King's conflicting agendas of reform
coupled with a crackdown on opposition, particularly the
Islamists. The cabinet again reflects the competition between
the main power-brokers of Jordanian politics as GID Director
Sa'ad Kheir and Royal Court Minister Samir Rifai call for a
hardline approach to opposition, while PM Fayez takes a more
conciliatory approach to avoid alienating sectors of
Jordanian society. Given the King's strong desire for action
from PM Fayez's government and the conflicted nature of the
cabinet, we do not expect this government to last long.
5. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at
http://www.state.sgov/p/nea/amman/ or access the site through
the Department of State's SIPRNET home page.
HALE