Jordan's new prime minister Awn Khasawneh said on Wednesday he hoped to include opposition Islamists in the government for the first time in two decades as he sought to form a broad-based cabinet and ease months of street tensions. Khasawneh, an international jurist, was asked by King Abdullah this week to form a government to succeed conservative ex-general Marouf Bakhit, sacked for his handling of a mounting domestic crisis.
"I believe a priority of the government would be to remove the tension in the country and restore confidence between the ruling system and the people (which would be) a key to reforms," said Khasawneh, who left a prestigious post as an International Court of Justice judge to take up the post. "I welcome members of the Islamic movement into the ministerial team. The main criteria I am looking for is integrity," he told Reuters in his Amman family villa where he was receiving well-wishers.
Jordan, a US-backed monarchy with a long border with Israel, has not seen large protests calling for regime change like those that have engulfed other countries during the Arab Spring. But the Arab uprisings have emboldened protesters to speak out openly about corruption and interference by the security apparatus in public appointments. "In Jordan there is no institutional repression or bloodletting or killings of opponents of the regime. This a guarantor of stability," Khasawneh said.
"But the old system of governing has given in. It is no longer possible after the Arab spring." Islamists and disgruntled tribal figures have been the driving force behind street demonstrations across the country that were increasingly met by violence from members of conservative tribes and an entrenched security apparatus. Activists blockaded highways in provincial and tribal areas in recent weeks, protesting against the government's handling of preparations for local elections later this year.
Fears of a slide into civil unrest grew after loyalist and tribal groups attacked pro-reform rallies and security forces were accused of secretly supporting the assaults. Palace insiders said Khasawneh's appointment signals that King Abdullah, after relying on prime ministers drawn mainly from the security and traditional tribal establishment, wants a more independent figure to bring in fresh faces. He is expected to form his government in the next few days. Islamists said they were open to talks, but first needed him to meet their demands for constitutional reforms to bring wider electoral representation and greater power to parliament.
Islamists joined a government for six months in 1990 in the wake of an economic crisis that sparked civil unrest and ushered a period of democratic reforms under the late King Hussein, Abdullah's father. Officials say King Abdullah will count on Khasawneh to win support for economic and political reforms among the conservative establishment, the backbone of his power base.
Many in the establishment are unhappy with his drive to modernise a tribally structured society and fear accelerated reforms could erode their grip on power. The king has generally remained above public criticism. The throne is seen as unifying force and arbiter between competing tribes and the country's Palestinian majority. Abdullah also appointed a new intelligence chief seen as a more apolitical figure than previous holders of the post who had been criticised by the opposition for meddling in public life and thwarting reforms.
The monarch has privately said the powerful security service had even disregarded his calls to curb its involvement in internal politics. He sent its newly appointed chief Faisal al-Shobaki an unprecedented public letter on Tuesday telling him his agency should not thwart the reform drive. "Your assignment is to lead the directorate in the context of our efforts towards reforms, which necessitates ... this competent agency to support the path of reforms," the monarch said in his letter.
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