US embassy cable - 05AMMAN1422

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001422 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2010 
TAGS: PREL, ECON, KMPI, JO 
SUBJECT: RESIGNATION OF PLANNING MINISTER 
 
 
Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D) 
 
1.  (C) Jordan's Planning Minister, Bassam Awadallah, 
resigned effective February 20.  His replacement, Tayseer 
Smadi, who had served as Awadallah's secretary general for 
over a year was sworn into office the same day (biographical 
information septel). 
 
2.  (C) When informing Charge of his plans on February 17, 
Awadallah said he had received a private-sector offer in 
Dubai that he "could not refuse" and would not come along 
again.  However, deeper causes related to his frustration 
with a deeply divided cabinet, between traditional and 
reformist forces and with a Prime Minister who lacked the 
drive to force through the reform agenda.  Other contributing 
factors he said were continual parliamentary attacks of a 
personal nature, the social tedium of Amman, and a sense that 
as a westernized, Palestinian technocrat he had risen as far 
as possible politically.  At the King's request, he would 
direct Jordan's hosting of the May World Economic Forum and 
associated Forum for the Future events while taking on his 
new private sector tasks. 
 
3. (C) Comment:  Rumors are flying as to the real cause of 
Awadallah's departure, and there is one story  that he has 
been offered the ambassadorship in Washington (not true, 
based on Awadallah's comments to us).  Although personal 
reasons were the driving cause of the resignation, with the 
departure of Awadallah the cabinet loses one of its major 
forces for and internationally recognized symbols of reform. 
He was also the steward of the country's economic agenda. 
Lacking Awadallah's flair, Smadi will be a calmer presence in 
the cabinet, but also one unlikely to take on vested 
interests, speak on behalf of the King on reform agendas with 
the authority Awadallah mustered by virtue of a close 
association with the monarch or have a strong hand on the 
economy.  Although the King continues to express in private 
acute dismay with the cabinet's performance, he also shows a 
reluctance to sack its members until they are given a decent 
time to demonstrate competence.  Nor does he relish public 
demonstrations of impatience with the traditional forces in 
the cabinet.  Ironically, this stance may have contributed to 
the departure of the reformist closest to the King. 
HALE