AMMAN — Jordan’s King Abdullah has sworn in a new reformist government led by Harvard-educated technocrat Jafar Hassan. Tasked with pushing forward International Monetary Fund (IMF)-backed economic reforms, the government is also expected to accelerate the country’s political and economic modernization.
Hassan, who previously served as the monarch’s office chief and deputy prime minister, has been recognized for his strong administrative skills and experience overseeing economic reforms. His leadership will be crucial in managing Jordan’s public debt, which stands at over $50 billion, and tackling the country’s high unemployment rate.
The new 32-member cabinet includes a mix of moderates, technocrats, and tribal politicians, reflecting efforts to balance the traditional conservative establishment with more progressive elements. King Abdullah’s government has long sought to implement reforms, but resistance from the conservative establishment has slowed progress.
The newly elected parliament, which includes the largest Islamist opposition group in decades with 31 seats, may present challenges to the government’s reform agenda. Although the pro-government faction retains a majority in the 138-member assembly, the more vocal Islamist-led opposition could push back on the IMF’s free-market policies and foreign policy initiatives.
The government will now face the delicate task of balancing economic reforms with political stability, as it navigates domestic pressures and Western expectations for modernization.