Jordan King Swears In New Gov't to Prepare for Elections
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Jordanian King Abdullah swore in a new government led by a business-friendly politician Wednesday and charged him with preparing for parliamentary elections by September and pushing by legislation to spur sluggish growth.
Hani Mulki, 64, who has held a string of senior diplomatic and ministerial posts, is a former chief commissioner of Jordan's economic zone in the Red Sea port city of Aqaba, according to Reuters.
He was appointed by the king Sunday to replace Abdullah Ensour shortly after the monarch dissolved parliament as it neared its four-year term.
Under the constitutional rules the election must be held within four months.
Jordan traditionally votes according to tribal and family allegiances but parliament amended the electoral laws in March in a move government sources and political analysts say will lead to more candidates from political parties vying for votes.
Jordan's main political opposition comes from the Muslim Brotherhood movement but it faces increasing legal curbs on its activities, leaving mostly pro-monarchy parties and some independent Islamists and politicians to compete in these elections, the political analysts say.
