Jordan’s King Abdullah swears in new government led by Jaafar Hassan

Jordan's King Abdullah II earlier nominated his chief of staff Jaafar Hassan to be the new prime minister, the royal palace said, charging him with forming a government after parliamentary elections. (File/AFP)
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  • The reformist government was tasked with accelerating IMF-backed reforms and pushing through political and economic modernisation plans
  • Under the new government, Ayman Safadi will serve as deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and expatriates

AMMAN: Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Wednesday swore in a new government led by Jaafar Hassan as prime minister and minister of defense, state news agency PETRA reported.

The reformist government was tasked with accelerating IMF-backed reforms and pushing through political and economic modernisation plans.

Under the new government, Ayman Safadi will serve as deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and expatriates.

Earlier this week, Bisher Khasawneh’s government submitted the resignation of his government to King Abdullah II after parliamentary elections saw some gains for the Islamist opposition.

Hassan, a widely respected technocrat, replaced veteran diplomat and former palace advisor Al-Khasawneh, who is considered the longest-serving prime minister during King Abdullah II's reign.

The new prime minister was Jordan’s former planning minster. He recieved his education at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is also the head of King Abdullah's office.