In Amman, Jordan, King Abdullah II appointed Jafar Hassan, a long-time aide, as the new prime minister on Sunday. Hassan, who holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Geneva and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University, is a former planning minister and currently heads the king’s office. He will be taking over from the outgoing Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh, whose Cabinet resigned following a parliamentary election. Al-Khasawneh had been in office since October 2020.
Hassan faces the task of forming a new government to address various challenges, including an ailing economy and significant public discontent over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Despite Jordan having a peace treaty with Israel, it is home to a substantial Palestinian population. In the recent parliamentary election, an Islamic party gained prominence as the largest faction, partly due to public dissatisfaction over the situation in Gaza.
In Jordan, a pro-Western monarchy, ultimate authority lies with the king. The prime minister and his Cabinet collaborate with the monarch in devising and executing policies.
