Jordan’s King Abdullah appoints palace aide Bisher al-Khasawneh Prime Minister

Published: Updated:
Enable Read mode
100% Font Size

Jordan’s King Abdullah on Wednesday appointed veteran diplomat and palace aide Bisher al Khasawneh as the new prime minister, days after accepting the resignation of Omar al-Razzaz, the royal palace said.

The monarch dissolved parliament on September 27 at the end of its four-year term, a move that under constitutional rules meant the government had to resign within a week.

Advertisement

In a letter of designation, the monarch said he entrusted Khasawneh, who has been a palace advisor since last year after a career mostly spent as a diplomat and peace negotiator with Israel, to form a cabinet of qualified ministers who would rise to the country’s challenges.

For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

Khasawneh will oversee parliamentary elections due on November 10 whose outcome is expected under an electoral law that marginalizes the Islamist opposition to maintain a majority of pro-government deputies.

Read more:

Jordan’s King accepts resignation of PM Omar al-Razzaz

Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood to take part in elections after court dissolved chapter

The country is facing a peak in COVID-19 infections at a time of rising popular discontent over worsening economic conditions and curbs on public freedoms under emergency laws.

Jordan’s economy is expected to shrink by 6 percent this year as it grapples with its worst economic crisis in many years, with unemployment and poverty aggravated by the pandemic.

Top Content Trending