King Abdullah II instructs Jafar Hassan to form new government following PM resignation

New cabinet aims to address opposition gains and economic difficulties in Jordan

Bisher Khasawneh has submitted his resignation as Jordan's Prime Minister to King Abdullah II. AFP

Jordan's King Abdullah II has instructed Jafar Hassan, head of King Abdullah's office and a former planning minister, to form new cabinet following the resignation of Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh on Sunday, Petra news agency reported.

Mr Khasawneh will continue to serve in his position as a caretaker until the full formation of the new government.

King Abdullah had accepted the resignation earlier on Sunday days after the kingdom's parliamentary elections, where the religious opposition made significant gains and pro-government members retained their majority in the 138-seat parliament. All significant powers in Jordan reside with the king, who has ruled since 1999.

In last week's elections, the opposition gained more than 30 parliamentary seats – its largest in decades. Less than one-third of eligible voters cast ballots, according to an official tally, with public anger rising against tensions with Israel and a sluggish economy.

The elections were the first in Jordan under a new system aimed at boosting party representation.

Mr Hassan, a technocrat, will face the challenges of mitigating the impact of the Gaza war on the kingdom's economy, which has been hard-hit by curbs to investment and a sharp drop in tourism.

Mr Khasawneh had sought to drive reforms pushed by King Abdullah to help reverse a decade of weak economic growth, worsened by the coronavirus pandemic and conflict in neighbouring Iraq and Syria.

The war in Gaza has bolstered support for Jordan's religious opposition parties, which have organised some of the largest anti-Israel protests in the Middle East.

Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, becoming the second Arab state to do so after Egypt but regular protests have called for its dissolution since the Gaza war erupted last October.

Tensions were heightened last week after a Jordanian lorry driver killed three Israelis at the Allenby border crossing between Jordan and the occupied West Bank, a major trade route with Israel. The crossing was closed for several days before being reopened to travellers.