King Abdullah II of Jordan on Monday swore in a new government headed by Awn al-Khasawneh, an international judge, to forge ahead with pro-democratic reforms, say media reports.
Al-Khasawneh will take the place of Marouf al-Bakhit, whose government was sacked by the king a week ago after Parliament called for al-Bakhit to resign.
“The government will work to ensure that this law will provide the electorate with more options through direct and free elections,” al-Khasawneh said in a letter to the king, according to the Jordan-based Petra News Agency.
While the king said al-Bakhit worked under extraordinary circumstances, many felt he was not moving quickly enough to go through with democratic reforms, prompting his resignation, according to Petra. He was appointed earlier this year following pro-democracy demonstrations linked to the greater Arab Spring uprising.
Al-Khasawneh, who said his new government will seek out reforms to expand upon women’s rights and increase the size of the middle class, will also appoint an entirely new Cabinet.
The main opposition group in Jordan, the Muslim Brotherhood, said on Sunday that it turned down an offer made by al-Khasawneh to join the government, reported the Arab News.
