Jordan's Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh tendered his resignation on Sunday, according to officials knowledgeable about the situation. This move comes less than a week after a parliamentary election that saw the Islamist opposition make some gains in the US-allied kingdom.
Jaafar Hassan, who is currently the head of King Abdullah's office and a former planning minister, is anticipated to succeed Khasawneh. These officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, noted that Hassan will be tasked with addressing the economic repercussions of the Gaza war, which has severely impacted Jordan's economy, particularly through restrictions on investment and a significant decline in tourism.
Khasawneh, a seasoned diplomat and former palace advisor who was appointed nearly four years ago, had been working to implement reforms advocated by King Abdullah aimed at reversing a decade of sluggish growth, which had been exacerbated by the pandemic and conflicts in neighboring Iraq and Syria. The outgoing prime minister's efforts were met with significant gains by the Muslim Brotherhood opposition and ideological allies of Palestinian militant group Hamas in Tuesday's election, fueled by public anger over Israel's war in Gaza.
The newly formed 138-member parliament maintains a pro-government majority, but a more assertive Islamist-led opposition could pose challenges to IMF-backed free-market reforms and foreign policy.
