US embassy cable - 04AMMAN8794

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 008794 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, JO 
SUBJECT: KING RESHUFFLES CABINET 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 8600 
     B. AMMAN 7862 
     C. AMMAN 7336 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) The long-awaited cabinet reshuffle took place October 
24 in line with expectations (ref A). Only three ministers 
were replaced, while seven other new ministers were added. 
The new government retains, even sharpens, a division between 
the reformist wing and conservative East Bankers. 
Biographical information on all new ministers will follow 
(septel). End Summary. 
 
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The Highlights 
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2. (C) After months of government-fueled speculation, King 
Abdullah finally swore in a reshuffled cabinet in an evening 
ceremony October 24. The number of cabinet ministers 
increased from 21 to 28 as combined ministerial portfolios 
were separated and two new ministries created. Despite the 
King's public criticism of the old cabinet's performance, 
only three ministers resigned, most notably former Deputy 
Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade, Mohammad 
Halaiqa (for non-performance reasons). This modest change 
probably reflects the King's predilection for avoiding 
personal confrontation as he left some well-known duds in 
office, including Minister of Labor Amjad Majali. Asma Khader 
retained the spokesman role, despite her frequent gaffes. The 
number of women in the cabinet has increased from three to 
four. Of the ten new ministers, only one, Foreign Minister 
Hani al-Mulki, has ever served in a cabinet before. 
 
3. (C) A few of the new ministers have had positive 
interactions with post in the past. Minister of Industry and 
Trade Ahmad Hindawi has evinced a strong desire for economic 
cooperation with the United States, but in his preceding job 
as Director General of the Jordan Institution for Standards 
and Metrology has not had the ability to deliver. He comes 
from a family with a strong political background; his father 
once served as Deputy Prime Minister. Minister of Transport 
Saud Nsairat demonstrated strong pro-American sympathies and 
great competence in his former position as Vice Chairman of 
the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He may have some input in his new 
post on potential deals with Boeing, but in general his 
position carries little meaningful authority. Nsairat was 
most likely granted the appointment as a consolation prize 
for losing out in recent political maneuverings in the senior 
ranks of the Jordanian Armed Forces. Minister of Environment 
Yousef Shureiqi has shown commitment to environmental 
standards that fit well with our bilateral relationship, 
including the Free Trade Agreement. 
 
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A Divided House 
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4. (C) The new cabinet line-up represents a modest boost for 
the reform agenda as former Minister of Foreign Affairs 
Marwan Muasher, a well-known reformer, has been appointed 
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Prime 
Ministry Affairs and Government Performance (ref A). Key U.S. 
partners on reform - Planning Minister Awadallah, Justice 
Minister Bashir, and Education Minister Touqan - retained 
their jobs. At the same time, nine of the ten new ministers 
come from the ranks of conservative East Bank elements. This 
structure will impede an identifiably weak PM Fayez as he 
tries to carry out the King's conflicting agendas of reform 
coupled with a crackdown on opposition, particularly the 
Islamists. The cabinet again reflects the competition between 
the main power-brokers of Jordanian politics as GID Director 
Sa'ad Kheir and Royal Court Minister Samir Rifai call for a 
hardline approach to opposition, while PM Fayez takes a more 
conciliatory approach to avoid alienating sectors of 
Jordanian society. Given the King's strong desire for action 
from PM Fayez's government and the conflicted nature of the 
cabinet, we do not expect this government to last long. 
 
5. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at 
http://www.state.sgov/p/nea/amman/ or access the site through 
the Department of State's SIPRNET home page. 
 
HALE