Jordan: Unpopular prime minister replaced with controversial 'pro-Israel' neoliberal

Jordan: Unpopular prime minister replaced with controversial 'pro-Israel' neoliberal
Analysis: Some in Jordan are celebrating the dismissal of their unpopular prime minister, but new appointee Hani Mulki might be a more bitter pill to swallow.
3 min read
30 May, 2016
Mulki (R) has been accused of being a strong advocate of normalisation with Israel [AFP]
Many in Jordan have celebrated the king's move to replace the unpopular prime minister and dissolve parliament, but the constitutionally mandated formality and the choice of the new prime minister leave little to celebrate.

The dissolution of the legislature comes as the country is heading into parliamentary elections by September. The Jordanian monarch also appointed a new prime minister, Hani Mulki, who will oversee preparations for new elections.

Political analyst Bassam Badareen told AP on Monday that the appointment of Mulki, a prominent economist, signals that "the king wants to see a government that puts the economy as a first priority".

Jordan's monarch dissolved parliament on Sunday, paving the way for new elections within four months, as required by the constitution. He also appointed Mulki in place of Abdullah Ensour, who resigned after more than three years as prime minister.

Jordan's economy has been struggling, in part because a large refugee influx in recent years and the fallout from conflicts in neighbouring Syria and Iraq.

Unemployment and poverty rates have since skyrocketed, with debt levels reaching alarming, if not unsustainable, heights.

Many Jordanians have blamed the Ensour government for the economy's dire straits, citing his strict taxation policies, tariff hikes and crackdown on subsidies

But many Jordanians have blamed the Ensour government for the economy's dire straits, citing his strict taxation policies, tariff hikes and crackdown on subsidies.

However, Ensour's dismissal was not a move by the king to appease the public.

Furthermore, Hani Mulki, the 41st prime minister in Jordan's modern history, could even be more of a neoliberal standard-bearer than his predecessor, not to mention that he is accused of supporting further normalisation with Israel, a deeply unpopular quest among many Jordanians.

He comes from an economics background, and is a known advocate of privatisation. 

Mulki chaired the Jordanian Council during peace negotiations with Israel between 1994 and 1996.

Mulki is of Syrian origin and is son of former prime minister Fawzi Mulki (1953-1954). 

The 65-year-old new prime minister was formerly the chairperson of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, the epitome of neoliberal policy and reform.
Despite the removal of Ensour, the prime minister famous for raising prices, his policy will not end with Mulki

Observers say that despite the removal of Ensour, the prime minister famous for raising prices, his policy will not end with Mulki.

The new government will have its hands tied in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund regarding the Economic Correction Programme for 2017-2020, in which the IMF is adamant about ending subsidies for basic commodoties.

Mulki later served as minister of water, energy, and industry posts respectively, and other eonomic, energy and technology posts. He was also the kingdom's ambassador to Cairo twice, and then to the Arab League, and later served as adviser to the king and then foreign minister in 2004.
When he served as foreign minister, he almost caused a diplomatic crisis with his country's historic ally Saudi Arabia, when he submitted a Jordanian proposal for peace with Israel


When he served as foreign minister, he almost caused a diplomatic crisis with his country's historic ally Saudi Arabia, when he submitted a Jordanian proposal for peace with Israel to rival the Saudi-sponsored Arab peace initiative.

That bid was seen by his detractors as a Jordanian project for normalisation with Israel, and invited the wrath of then-Saudi foreign minister Saud al-Faisal, who accused him of tampering with his country's proposal.

In addition to the economy, the biggest challenge that will face the Mulki government will be the forthcoming general election. Afterwards, Mulki will have to step down in line with the constitution.

However, many analysts expect him to return to the post, similar to the path takenby the former prime minister Ensour.

In that case, Jordanians should expect little change from the policies of the outgoing government, with regard to either the country's foreign policy or the economy.