US embassy cable - 05AMMAN2826

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002826 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2010 
TAGS: PGOV, JO 
SUBJECT: DETAILS ON JORDAN'S NEW REFORMIST GOVERNMENT 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 2819 
     B. AMMAN 2694 
     C. AMMAN 2557 (NODIS/NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: Charge David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D) 
 
1.  (C) Summary.  Jordan's King has selected a committed 
reformist and respected figure, but a bit of a dark horse, as 
the next prime minister.  Marwan al-Muasher gave the cabinet 
details to Charge.  These include his taking the highly 
influential post of Royal Court Minister, the removal of the 
Foreign Minister (road kill since the Algiers summit), and 
selection of a dynamic, private sector oriented economic team 
led by Bassam Awadallah as Finance Minister.  Reformists will 
be encouraged; traditional East Bankers will view a 
Palestinian-flavored cabinet and a Christian in the royal 
court with considerable dismay.  While we should suspend 
judgment until all the details are made public, the King's 
choices appear to be consistent with U.S. reform goals and 
should deserve our support.  End summary. 
 
2.  (C) At the King's request, Marwan al-Muasher ) outgoing 
Deputy PM and incoming Royal Court Minister ) briefed Charge 
on April 5 on the new government, which would be sworn in 
April 7 or 12.  The King wanted sweeping portfolio changes, 
Muasher said, to strengthen the government's capacity to 
pursue the full range of his reform agenda ) political, 
economic and social.  Prime Minister-designate Adnan Badran 
was not personally known well by the King, but Badran fit his 
criteria:  he was a strong, committed reformist, open minded, 
carried political weight, and had a wealth of experience.  He 
was also an excellent executive, as his management of 
Jordan's premier university, Philadelphia University, 
demonstrated.  As for the other cabinet picks, the emphasis 
would be heavily on reform.  Three or four ministers would be 
chosen to provide "experience and wisdom."  Those current 
ministers with a demonstrated commitment to reform would 
remain; those without, would go. The economic team would be 
lead by Bassam Awadallah, as the new Finance Minister.  He 
would be joined by dynamic figures from the private sector. 
The uninspiring Trade and Industry Minister Hindawi would 
leave.  The new Foreign Minister will be Farrouk Kasrawy, now 
head of Jordan's Diplomatic Institute.  Muasher described 
Kasrawy as Jordan's best professional diplomat ) seasoned, 
experienced, but not pro-active, and hence a welcome change 
from the overly creative, even manic Hani al-Mulki.  The King 
would provide the policy initiative; Kasrawy would handle 
implementation.  Marwan Dudin, a well-known Palestinian 
figure here, would be made Deputy Prime Minister, and 
Palestinians would comprise half the cabinet.  The King's 
letter of designation would make clear his desire to see an 
accelerated pace of reform, including political reform, 
advancement of the national agenda, and improved handling of 
Arab relations so bruised by Mulki,s five month tenure. 
 
3.  (C) At the palace, apart from Masher's selection, Rania 
Attallah would be the new communications director.  Currently 
the Queen's Chief of Staff, Attallah will bring the spirit of 
reform to the palace's relations with the press.  Outgoing PM 
Faysal al-Fayez will be named chief of the royal court, with 
responsibility for protocol, tribal affairs, Hashemite family 
matters, and palace outreach.  As minister of royal court, 
Muasher will handle all policy matters and governmental 
liaison.  He is the first Christian in one of Jordan's four 
most critical jobs.  He said he will remain a member of the 
national agenda committee, an important forum for advancing 
the nation's reform effort.  The Royal Court will be 
reorganized on a model provided by Booz Allen. 
 
4.  (C) Comment:  The King, unhappy that the cabinet was 
split between reformists and traditionalists and lacking 
leadership from the amiable but often obtuse PM, has been 
considering changes for sometime.  His decision to proceed 
with a clean sweep (ref C) came amidst a series of missteps 
made by the government in Amman which undercut the King while 
in Washington .  Challenged by U.S. media about his 
commitment to reform, the King returned determined to shake 
complacency and remove those figures whose corruption or 
anti-reform impulses tarnished him by association.  The King 
has handpicked the entire new cabinet, although a decent 
delay in announcing the rest of the team will lend the 
appearance that Badran chose them.  The King took advice from 
the Queen, Muasher, Awadallah, and Royal Protocol Chief 
Muhammad al-Haymaq (who has long experience in international 
advertising and business management).  GID Chief Saad Khayr 
was conspicuously absent from the process, and the power 
pendulum has shifted sharply in Jordan toward Muasher and 
Awadallah, for now.  While we should suspend judgment until 
the entire cabinet is revealed, the King's direction is 
encouraging and designed to create a modern, energetic, and 
cohesive reform team.  Badran will face two challenges.  The 
first comes in his handling of a traditionalist parliament; 
Muasher said the King will call in bloc leaders next week and 
seek their support for the reforms and his reformist team, 
but in the end it will be left to Badran to move legislation. 
 The second challenge comes from Khayr, whose role is a 
diminishing one but who speaks for the many conservative East 
Bank constituents of the King.  They, to a man, will view 
with alarm this reformist, heavily Palestinian cabinet, led 
by a university president, and an enhanced palace role for a 
Christian often described by his foes as "more Palestinian 
than the Palestinians." 
HALE