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New Jordanian Government Formed After Cabinet Resigns
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| Jordan's King Abdullah II
at a marketing and commercial conference the same day the government submitted its resignation |
AMMAN, Jan. 14 (News Agencies) – A new 27-member Jordanian government formed by Prime Minister, Ali Abu Ragheb, was sworn in Monday, with the foreign and interior ministers being replaced, a Jordanian government official said.
The ministers took the oath in front of King Abdullah II, with the exception of the new foreign minister, who is currently in Washington, the official said, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
In the new line-up approved by the king, the prime minister also holds the defense portfolio. Abu Ragheb submitted his outgoing team's resignation earlier the same day.
The new government no longer includes deputy prime ministers, while the key players to leave the scene are the foreign and interior ministers, AFP said.
Jordan's current ambassador to the United States, Marwan Moasher, 45, was named foreign minister, while Koftan Majali, secretary general of the interior ministry, took over that portfolio.
A ministry of state for foreign affairs was also created. The new position was handed to the ministry's current secretary general, Shaher Bak.
The position of information minister was re-established despite last October's decision to scrap the portfolio and turn it into a "high council of experts".
The new government includes seven new faces, while six ministers have lost their places. Its main mission will be to organize legislative elections in the country before the end of 2002.
"A precise date will be announced with the formation of the new government for the holding of legislative elections, which will probably be held in September," the official said.
The resignation of Abu Ragheb's second administration since June 2000 follows approval Sunday of the annual budget. The last reshuffle took place in November, said AFP.
The budget for the year 2002 had a deficit of 6.5 per cent of GDP compared with 6.9 percent in 2001 and focused on the fight against poverty and unemployment, Jordanian Finance Minister, Michel Marto, said.
Spending is projected to be around 2.35 billion Jordanian dinars (3.29 billion dollars), while revenue is estimated at 1.915 billion (2.68 billion dollars).
The budget deficit, without taking foreign aid into account, will be 435 million dinars (609 million dollars).
Marto predicted an increase in average income for Jordanians, which was estimated at the end of 2001 at 1,770 dollars per head, he said.
The budget has this year not been submitted for approval by parliament, which was dissolved by the king in June.
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