US embassy cable - 04AMMAN9762

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 009762 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, KISL, KMPI, JO 
SUBJECT: KING OPENS PARLIAMENT WITH EMPHASIS ON ECONOMY; 
SPEAKER ELECTION LEAVES ISLAMISTS OUT IN THE COLD 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 08868 
     B. AMMAN 08195 
     C. 03 AMMAN 07909 
     D. 03 AMMAN 07874 
 
Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for Reasons 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (U) King Abdullah opened December 1 a new session of 
Parliament with a speech focusing on the need to spread the 
benefits of economic growth to all Jordanians and to 
aggressively combat poverty and unemployment.  References to 
political reform and democracy were muted, in contrast to the 
central role they played in the King's speech the previous 
year.  Incumbent Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali was 
re-elected to another term by a four vote margin despite 
losing the support of Islamist MPs, who subsequently were 
shut out of formal parliamentary leadership positions.  End 
Summary. 
 
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POMP AND PAGEANTRY 
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2.  (U) King Abdullah inaugurated the second regular session 
of the 14th Jordanian Parliament on December 1 with the full 
treatment of royal fanfare.  Wearing his dress uniform 
generously appointed with decorations, the King entered the 
parliamentary chamber amidst thunderous applause from a 
standing room only crowd that included members of the royal 
family (though not the King's pregnant wife), government 
officials, foreign dignitaries, tribal sheikhs, military 
leaders, and the press.  In delivering his traditional speech 
from the throne to the joint houses of Parliament, the King 
was interrupted no less than five times by shouts of "Long 
live the King!" from East Bank tribesmen. 
 
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IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID 
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3.  (U) The King opened his 20 minute speech with a 
commitment to "comprehensive development" through reform and 
modernization to achieve "a society of freedom, pluralism, 
justice, equal opportunities and the rule of law."  He then 
turned his attention to the economy, stating that despite 
instability in the region, Jordan had seen an increase in 
economic growth, exports and investment.  The King was quick 
to point out, however, that he realized that the benefits of 
economic reform "did not yet reach all sectors of society." 
He recounted complaints from ordinary Jordanians who told him 
that poverty and unemployment were "swords threatening our 
necks" and that "we've heard a lot about development, but 
have seen nothing of it." 
 
4.  (U) Declaring that his "first concern" has always been to 
"improve the quality of life of every citizen," King Abdullah 
stressed that it was "imperative" to fight poverty and 
unemployment.  This would entail, according to the King, a 
review of training and educational programs, securing 
additional development funding, promoting respect for the 
value of work, and upgrading the agricultural sector.  He 
also emphasized the need to attract investment - "a key 
factor in development" - to create jobs.  Finally, the King 
stated that health care was "every citizen's right" and urged 
the government to expand health insurance coverage with 
special attention paid to maternal and child health. 
 
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POLITICAL REFORM, FOREIGN POLICY TAKE BACK SEAT 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
5.  (SBU) In contrast to his speech from the throne last 
year, which highlighted goals for political development, 
greater democracy and increased transparency (ref d), King 
Abdullah paid limited attention to non-economic reforms.  He 
devoted one sentence to administrative reform, calling for 
"profound change" to make government institutions a model of 
"efficiency and accountability," while promising to continue 
improvements to the educational and judicial systems.  As for 
political reform, the King briefly advocated "the activation 
of political life and parties" through a "comprehensive 
national dialogue," saying that this was an "irreversible 
priority that must go hand in hand with administrative 
development."  He did not provide further details or mention 
plans to adopt any of the much-discussed proposed legislation 
on elections and political parties. 
 
6.  (SBU)  Jordan's foreign policy was entirely absent from 
the King's speech, except for a statement that continued 
development would make Jordan a "stronger supporter for the 
causes of our nation and brethren, especially in Palestine 
and Iraq."  The King did not leave out, however, praise for 
the Jordanian security services.  "I seize this occasion to 
greet - with love, appreciation, and pride - our sons and 
daughters in our armed and security forces; they are the 
nation's shield and the watchful eyes for its security and 
stability," the King pronounced, prompting hurrahs and 
applause from the many members of these constituencies 
present.  He further promised to modernize and upgrade the 
security forces while "preserving its size and numbers." 
 
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MAJALI EKES OUT A SLIM VICTORY 
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7.  (C) Shortly after the King's speech, the Lower House of 
Parliament convened and reelected incumbent Lower House 
Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali for a second term.  Majali (East 
Banker - Kerak), a former Public Security Department chief 
and Minister of Public Works, narrowly beat out former 
Justice Minister Abdel Karim Dughmi (East Banker, Mafraq) by 
a vote of 56 to 52.  Majali was backed by a coalition of four 
parliamentary blocs, as well as several independent MPs. 
Dughmi, widely seen as the "front man" for former Prime 
Minister Abdur Rawabdeh, was supported by MPs from two other 
blocs, most notably the Islamic Action Front (IAF), and a 
number of independents. 
 
8.  (C) Since the 2003 parliamentary elections, the IAF has 
exercised greater influence in the Parliament than its 17 
seats warrant by shrewdly exploiting differences between 
competing blocs of MPs.  It played a decisive role in 
electing Majali as Speaker of the last parliamentary session, 
prompting some analysts to conclude that Majali had made a 
secret deal to support some elements of the Islamists' agenda 
 
SIPDIS 
(see ref c).  According to post sources, however, the IAF 
became disillusioned with Majali during the course of the 
last session, particularly because he did not intercede to 
help ward off strong GOJ reaction to the IAF's vocal attacks 
against certain government policies (e.g., a sales tax 
increase) and the IAF's feud with Interior Minister Habashneh 
(see refs a, b). 
 
9.  (C) Following Majali's reelection, the Lower House chose 
MPs to fill four remaining leadership slots (though none 
compare with the power wielded by the Speaker).  To no one's 
surprise, a member of each of the four blocs that supported 
Majali was elected to these positions:  First Deputy Speaker 
- Mamdouh Abbadi ((East Banker, Amman - 3rd Dist.); Second 
Deputy Speaker - Thaher Fawwaz (East Banker, Northern Badia); 
First Assistant - Mustapha Amawi (East Banker, Irbid - 3rd 
Dist.); Second Assistant - Mohammad Arsalan (East Banker, 
Zarqa - 1st Dist.).  MP Suleiman Abu Ghaith (West Banker, 
Madaba - 1st Dist.), a former member of the Muslim 
Brotherhood who still retains Islamist ties, told PolOff 
December 7 that the IAF was very upset at having been shut 
out of the formal parliamentary leadership positions. 
 
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COMMENT 
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10.  (C) The emphasis on bread and butter issues in the 
King's well-publicized speech (i.e., living conditions, 
poverty and unemployment) indicates a palace decision to 
focus on what's most important to a large majority of 
Jordanians, instead of declaiming on the grand longer-term 
"vision" for the country as the King did last year.  The 
corresponding de-emphasis of political development and 
democratization likely reflects a continuing division among 
top decision-makers in Jordan on both the pace and extent of 
these reforms, which has resulted in a cautious "go slow" 
approach. 
 
11.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
HENZEL