Jordan Carries Out Limited Cabinet Reshuffle

By Laith Joneidi





Jordan's King Abdullah II on Tuesday approved a second limited reshuffle in Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz's cabinet, according to a statement issued by the Jordanian Royal Court.





The reshuffle includes naming new ministers for education and tourism, the two portfolios that had remained vacant since the resignation of their ministers on November 4.





A new minister was named for the Ministry of Transportation, which was newly formed after separating it from the Ministry of Municipality Affairs.





On October 11, Al-Razzaz carried out his first cabinet reshuffle as he dismissed 10 government ministers and appointed seven new people to his cabinet.





Al-Razzaz was appointed to the premiership in June, succeeding Hani al-Mulki, who stepped down from the post amid widespread demonstrations against an unpopular income tax law.





The al-Razzaz government is Jordan's 18th government since King Abdullah assumed the throne in 1999. -