Following the resignation of Jordan’s Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh, King Abdullah appointed Jafar Hassan, a key palace aide and former planning minister, as the new prime minister. Khasawneh will remain in a caretaker role until a new cabinet is formed.
Hassan, a Harvard-educated technocrat, is tasked with addressing the economic impact of the Gaza war, including a decline in investment and tourism. King Abdullah emphasized that strengthening democracy and advancing donor-backed infrastructure projects are key to Jordan’s economic future.
Hassan will also focus on accelerating IMF-guided reforms and managing Jordan’s over $50 billion public debt. Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood, aligned with Hamas, gained 31 seats in parliament, posing potential challenges to IMF-backed reforms. Despite this, a pro-government majority remains in the 138-member parliament.
