Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04AMMAN9762
2004-12-09 09:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

KING OPENS PARLIAMENT WITH EMPHASIS ON ECONOMY;

Tags:  PGOV KDEM KISL KMPI JO 
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This 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 SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 009762 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2014
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KISL KMPI JO
SUBJECT: KING OPENS PARLIAMENT WITH EMPHASIS ON ECONOMY;
SPEAKER ELECTION LEAVES ISLAMISTS OUT IN THE COLD

REF: A. AMMAN 08868

B. AMMAN 08195

C. 03 AMMAN 07909

D. 03 AMMAN 07874

Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)

-------
SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 009762

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2014
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KISL KMPI JO
SUBJECT: KING OPENS PARLIAMENT WITH EMPHASIS ON ECONOMY;
SPEAKER ELECTION LEAVES ISLAMISTS OUT IN THE COLD

REF: A. AMMAN 08868

B. AMMAN 08195

C. 03 AMMAN 07909

D. 03 AMMAN 07874

Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (U) King Abdullah opened December 1 a new session of
Parliament with a speech focusing on the need to spread the
benefits of economic growth to all Jordanians and to
aggressively combat poverty and unemployment. References to
political reform and democracy were muted, in contrast to the
central role they played in the King's speech the previous
year. Incumbent Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali was
re-elected to another term by a four vote margin despite
losing the support of Islamist MPs, who subsequently were
shut out of formal parliamentary leadership positions. End
Summary.

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POMP AND PAGEANTRY
--------------


2. (U) King Abdullah inaugurated the second regular session
of the 14th Jordanian Parliament on December 1 with the full
treatment of royal fanfare. Wearing his dress uniform
generously appointed with decorations, the King entered the
parliamentary chamber amidst thunderous applause from a
standing room only crowd that included members of the royal
family (though not the King's pregnant wife),government
officials, foreign dignitaries, tribal sheikhs, military
leaders, and the press. In delivering his traditional speech
from the throne to the joint houses of Parliament, the King
was interrupted no less than five times by shouts of "Long
live the King!" from East Bank tribesmen.

--------------
IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID
--------------


3. (U) The King opened his 20 minute speech with a
commitment to "comprehensive development" through reform and
modernization to achieve "a society of freedom, pluralism,
justice, equal opportunities and the rule of law." He then
turned his attention to the economy, stating that despite
instability in the region, Jordan had seen an increase in
economic growth, exports and investment. The King was quick
to point out, however, that he realized that the benefits of
economic reform "did not yet reach all sectors of society."

He recounted complaints from ordinary Jordanians who told him
that poverty and unemployment were "swords threatening our
necks" and that "we've heard a lot about development, but
have seen nothing of it."


4. (U) Declaring that his "first concern" has always been to
"improve the quality of life of every citizen," King Abdullah
stressed that it was "imperative" to fight poverty and
unemployment. This would entail, according to the King, a
review of training and educational programs, securing
additional development funding, promoting respect for the
value of work, and upgrading the agricultural sector. He
also emphasized the need to attract investment - "a key
factor in development" - to create jobs. Finally, the King
stated that health care was "every citizen's right" and urged
the government to expand health insurance coverage with
special attention paid to maternal and child health.

-------------- --
POLITICAL REFORM, FOREIGN POLICY TAKE BACK SEAT
-------------- --


5. (SBU) In contrast to his speech from the throne last
year, which highlighted goals for political development,
greater democracy and increased transparency (ref d),King
Abdullah paid limited attention to non-economic reforms. He
devoted one sentence to administrative reform, calling for
"profound change" to make government institutions a model of
"efficiency and accountability," while promising to continue
improvements to the educational and judicial systems. As for
political reform, the King briefly advocated "the activation
of political life and parties" through a "comprehensive
national dialogue," saying that this was an "irreversible
priority that must go hand in hand with administrative
development." He did not provide further details or mention
plans to adopt any of the much-discussed proposed legislation
on elections and political parties.


6. (SBU) Jordan's foreign policy was entirely absent from
the King's speech, except for a statement that continued
development would make Jordan a "stronger supporter for the
causes of our nation and brethren, especially in Palestine
and Iraq." The King did not leave out, however, praise for
the Jordanian security services. "I seize this occasion to
greet - with love, appreciation, and pride - our sons and
daughters in our armed and security forces; they are the
nation's shield and the watchful eyes for its security and
stability," the King pronounced, prompting hurrahs and
applause from the many members of these constituencies
present. He further promised to modernize and upgrade the
security forces while "preserving its size and numbers."

--------------
MAJALI EKES OUT A SLIM VICTORY
--------------


7. (C) Shortly after the King's speech, the Lower House of
Parliament convened and reelected incumbent Lower House
Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali for a second term. Majali (East
Banker - Kerak),a former Public Security Department chief
and Minister of Public Works, narrowly beat out former
Justice Minister Abdel Karim Dughmi (East Banker, Mafraq) by
a vote of 56 to 52. Majali was backed by a coalition of four
parliamentary blocs, as well as several independent MPs.
Dughmi, widely seen as the "front man" for former Prime
Minister Abdur Rawabdeh, was supported by MPs from two other
blocs, most notably the Islamic Action Front (IAF),and a
number of independents.


8. (C) Since the 2003 parliamentary elections, the IAF has
exercised greater influence in the Parliament than its 17
seats warrant by shrewdly exploiting differences between
competing blocs of MPs. It played a decisive role in
electing Majali as Speaker of the last parliamentary session,
prompting some analysts to conclude that Majali had made a
secret deal to support some elements of the Islamists' agenda

SIPDIS
(see ref c). According to post sources, however, the IAF
became disillusioned with Majali during the course of the
last session, particularly because he did not intercede to
help ward off strong GOJ reaction to the IAF's vocal attacks
against certain government policies (e.g., a sales tax
increase) and the IAF's feud with Interior Minister Habashneh
(see refs a, b).


9. (C) Following Majali's reelection, the Lower House chose
MPs to fill four remaining leadership slots (though none
compare with the power wielded by the Speaker). To no one's
surprise, a member of each of the four blocs that supported
Majali was elected to these positions: First Deputy Speaker
- Mamdouh Abbadi ((East Banker, Amman - 3rd Dist.); Second
Deputy Speaker - Thaher Fawwaz (East Banker, Northern Badia);
First Assistant - Mustapha Amawi (East Banker, Irbid - 3rd
Dist.); Second Assistant - Mohammad Arsalan (East Banker,
Zarqa - 1st Dist.). MP Suleiman Abu Ghaith (West Banker,
Madaba - 1st Dist.),a former member of the Muslim
Brotherhood who still retains Islamist ties, told PolOff
December 7 that the IAF was very upset at having been shut
out of the formal parliamentary leadership positions.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


10. (C) The emphasis on bread and butter issues in the
King's well-publicized speech (i.e., living conditions,
poverty and unemployment) indicates a palace decision to
focus on what's most important to a large majority of
Jordanians, instead of declaiming on the grand longer-term
"vision" for the country as the King did last year. The
corresponding de-emphasis of political development and
democratization likely reflects a continuing division among
top decision-makers in Jordan on both the pace and extent of
these reforms, which has resulted in a cautious "go slow"
approach.


11. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
HENZEL