RESIGNATION OF PLANNING MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001422

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2010
TAGS: PREL ECON KMPI JO
SUBJECT: RESIGNATION OF PLANNING MINISTER


Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D)


1. (C) Jordan's Planning Minister, Bassam Awadallah,
resigned effective February 20. His replacement, Tayseer
Smadi, who had served as Awadallah's secretary general for
over a year was sworn into office the same day (biographical
information septel).


2. (C) When informing Charge of his plans on February 17,
Awadallah said he had received a private-sector offer in
Dubai that he "could not refuse" and would not come along
again. However, deeper causes related to his frustration
with a deeply divided cabinet, between traditional and
reformist forces and with a Prime Minister who lacked the
drive to force through the reform agenda. Other contributing
factors he said were continual parliamentary attacks of a
personal nature, the social tedium of Amman, and a sense that
as a westernized, Palestinian technocrat he had risen as far
as possible politically. At the King's request, he would
direct Jordan's hosting of the May World Economic Forum and
associated Forum for the Future events while taking on his
new private sector tasks.


3. (C) Comment: Rumors are flying as to the real cause of
Awadallah's departure, and there is one story that he has
been offered the ambassadorship in Washington (not true,
based on Awadallah's comments to us). Although personal
reasons were the driving cause of the resignation, with the
departure of Awadallah the cabinet loses one of its major
forces for and internationally recognized symbols of reform.
He was also the steward of the country's economic agenda.
Lacking Awadallah's flair, Smadi will be a calmer presence in
the cabinet, but also one unlikely to take on vested
interests, speak on behalf of the King on reform agendas with
the authority Awadallah mustered by virtue of a close
association with the monarch or have a strong hand on the
economy. Although the King continues to express in private
acute dismay with the cabinet's performance, he also shows a
reluctance to sack its members until they are given a decent
time to demonstrate competence. Nor does he relish public
demonstrations of impatience with the traditional forces in
the cabinet. Ironically, this stance may have contributed to
the departure of the reformist closest to the King.
HALE