(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, APRIL 27 - Jordan's King Abdullah
yesterday entrusted the former Prime Minister, Fayez Tarawneh
with the task of forming a new government, following the
resignation as head of the government of Awn Khasawneh, the
official news agency Petra has announced. Tarawneh, who is 63,
studied in the United States and was initially Prime Minister
for a few months between 1998 and 1999, following the coronation
of Abdullah, who replaced his father Hussein as king.
Khasawneh, 62, was named Prime Minister in October as part of
the latest bid by the Hashemite monarchy to quell popular
discontent in the country, which resulted in street protests
amid spreading protests across the Arab world. The Islamist
movement was particularly prominent in the protests, which did
not question the role of the monarchy but were aimed at
obtaining effective ways of combating corruption and political
reforms that might strengthen parliamentary powers. The King
currently has the power to appoint or sack the head of
government independently from the elected majority. As was the
case for his predecessor Maaruf Bakhit, who was Prime Minister
from February to October 2011, Khasawneh was criticised by broad
sections of the public for being unable to launch a set of
economic reforms. Whenever the Jordanian regime finds itself
under pressure from public opinion, the King puts pressure on
the Prime Minister to resign, in an apparent signal of change.
(ANSAmed).
