AMMAN: Jordan’s King Abdallah named former Royal Court Minister Samir Rifai as new prime minister in a royal decree on Wednesday following the resignation of Nader Dahabi’s government, around two weeks after the king dissolved the Parliament.
Rifai, 43, replaces Dahabi, 63, who had headed the government since November 2007. He belongs to a family of politicians. His father, Zeid Rifai, the current senate president, was prime minister several times in the 1970s and 1980s.
“We want a government that works in confidence and transparency, as one team united in serving the public without weakness, slowness, or fear of making decisions,” a palace statement quoted the king as telling Rifai.
“The coming general elections must be held in the last quarter of next year to help Jordan continue its democratic drive and political development,” the king told Rifai.
An official statement said the king accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Nader Dahabi and asked former aide Rifai to form a new government.
Rifai was minister of the royal court from 2003 to 2005, when he accepted the position of CEO of the financial group Dubai Capital.
His appointment came after the king dissolved Parliament on Nov. 23 and ordered a general election two years early, after months of press criticism of the ineffectiveness and in some cases alleged corruption of members of the outgoing legislature.
In a letter, the king asked Rifai to “take the necessary time” to form his Cabinet, which is a rarity in a country like Jordan where new prime minister and government lineups are normally announced at the same time.
The new cabinet lineup is likely to continue Jordan’s free market, officials said. They said Abdallah will count on Rifai to win support for his economic and social reforms among the conservative establishment.
