NEW PRIME MINISTER NAMED

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002819 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2015 TAGS: PGOV JO PBIO SUBJECT: NEW PRIME MINISTER NAMED REF: A. AMMAN 02694 ¶B. AMMAN 2557 (NOTAL) Classified By: CDA David Hale for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) The government of Prime Minister Faisal al-Fayez tendered its resignation April 5, and King Abdullah named Dr. Adnan Badran as the new PM to lead a reshuffled cabinet. This development is in line with the King's earlier discussion with Charge on a government change (ref B) and comes on the heels of widespread public rumors that Fayez was soon to be ousted (ref A). The King is expected to make a public announcement about the new government on Jordan TV and radio the evening of April 5. Post will provide analysis septel, as well as bios on other ministers as they are announced. New Royal Court Minister Marwan al-Muasher briefed Charge on the details, reported septel. ¶2. (U) Biographical information for Dr. Adnan Badran follows: Dr. Badran, a Muslim East Banker from a small but well-known family, was born in Jerash on December 15, 1935. (His brother, Mudar Badran, was Prime Minister from December 1989 until June 1991.) He received a bachelor's degree in science from Oklahoma State University in 1959. He later earned a master's degree (1961) and a Ph.D. (1963) from Michigan State University. After working as a research biochemist in the private sector for three years, Badran became a science professor at the University of Jordan in 1966 and was promoted to Dean of the Faculty of Science in 1971. He left the University of Jordan in 1976 to found and serve as President of Yarmouk University. From 1986-87, Badran was Secretary-General of the Higher Council for Science and SIPDIS Technology. He served as Minister of Agriculture from 1988-89, and as Minister of Education from 1989-90. Badran moved to Paris in 1990 to work with UNESCO, eventually serving as UNESCO Deputy Director-General from 1994 until ¶1998. Since 1998 he has been president of Philadelphia University, Jordan's premier private university. Badran is married with several children. He speaks Arabic, English and French and has written numerous books and research papers in the fields of biology, economic development, education, and international cooperation. Badran is a Board Member of the Fulbright Commission in Amman, and he participated in the International Visitor Program in 1977. ¶3. (U) Minimize considered. HALE