Cabinet reshuffle brings back three portfolios, scraps two

AMMAN — A Royal Decree was issued on Thursday approving a reshuffle in Prime Minister Omar Razzaz’s Cabinet.

Salameh Hammad was appointed as interior minister, Walid Masri as minister of local administration, Yasera Ghosheh as minister of state for institutional performance development, Mohammad Eses as minister of planning and international cooperation and state minister for economic affairs, Sami Daoud as minister of state for prime ministry affairs, Saad Jaber as health minister, Muthana Gharaibeh as minister of digital economy and entrepreneurship, and Nidal Bataineh as labour minister, according to a Royal Court statement.

The reshuffle, the third since Razzaz took office in July last year, saw the scrapping of two portfolios; the Ministry of State for Investment Affairs and the Ministry of ICT.

Six newcomers joined the government’s ranks in the latest formation, including Ghosheh and Hammad, who have both carried the same portfolios in previous governments, while five ministers were out (see profiles of new ministers). 

Meanwhile, Razzaz’s new shake-up introduced a new portfolio, digital economy and entrepreneurship, replacing ICT, and brought back those of prime ministry affairs, institutional performance development, which was scrapped in the previous reshuffle, and the economic affairs portfolio, now merged with planning and international cooperation.

Under the new amendments, the name of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs has been changed to the Ministry of Local Administration. 

In October 2018, Razzaz restructured his Cabinet for the first time, and then again in January 2019.

The new ministers were sworn in on Thursday before His Majesty King Abdullah at Al Husseiniya Palace in the presence of Razzaz, Royal Court Chief Yousef Issawi and Adviser to His Majesty for Communication and Coordination Bisher Al Khasawneh.

Earlier in the day, a Royal Decree was issued accepting the resignation of the following ministers as of May 9: Minister of Labour Samir Murad, Minister of Municipal Affairs Walid Masri, Minister of State for Investment Affairs Muhannad Shehadeh, Minister of Interior Samir Mubaidin, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mary Kawar, Minister of ICT Muthana Gharaibeh and Health Minister Ghazi Zaben.

A Royal Decree was also issued accepting the resignation of Special Adviser to His Majesty Mohammad Eses, effective May 9. 

Cabinet list

Following is the list of Prime Minister Omar Razzaz Cabinet members after Thursday’s reshuffle:

• Omar Razzaz: Prime Minister and Minister of Defence
• Rajai Muasher: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State
• Ayman Safadi: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
• Musa Maaytah: Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of State
• Nidal Bataineh: Minister of Labour
• Walid Masri: Minister of Local Administration
• Yasera Ghosheh: Minister of State for Institutional Performance Development
• Sami Daoud: Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs
• Mohamad Eses: Minister of Planning and International Cooperation and State Minister for Economic Affairs
• Salameh Hammad: Minister of Interior
• Abdul Nasser Abul Bassal: Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs
• Ezzeddine Kanakrieh: Minister of Finance
• Mubarak Abu Yamin: Minister of State for Legal Affairs
• Tareq Hammouri: Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply
• Jumana Ghunaimat: Minister of State for Media Affairs
• Hala Zawati: Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources
• Muthana Gharaibeh: Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship
• Raed Abul Saud: Minister of Water and Irrigation
• Bassam Talhouni: Minister of Justice
• Majd Shweikeh: Minister of Tourism and Antiquities 
• Falah Omoush: Minister of Public Works and Housing
• Basma Ishaqat: Minister of Social Development
• Saad Jaber: Minister of Health
• Ibrahim Shahahdeh: Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
• Mohammad Abu Rumman: Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
• Walid Maani: Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education
• Anmar Khasawneh: Minister of Transport