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Fourth Cabinet reshuffle raises questions about economic reforms in Jordan

Jordan’s prime minister conducted a Cabinet reshuffle for the fourth time since ascending to power to advance economic reforms required by a loan deal with the International Monetary Fund.
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Less than two weeks after he unveiled on Oct. 27 what was described as “a comprehensive program” to stimulate the economy, Jordan’s Prime Minister Omar Razzaz reshuffled his Cabinet Nov. 7, effectively letting go of the head of his economic team, Deputy Prime Minister Rajai Muasher, and Finance Minister Ezzeddine Kanakrieh. Muasher is believed to have been a staunch supporter of fiscal reforms backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under a 2016 agreement.

The reshuffle affected other portfolios as well. But the main heading for this unexpected move — a few days before parliament was to be back in session — was the departure of both Muasher and Kanakrieh, who only a few days ago, on Oct. 27, went live on local television to explain the various components of the stimulus package. Former Minister of Planning Mohamad Al-Ississ, a Harvard graduate and former senior economic planner at the royal court, was given the finance portfolio. He is now believed to be in charge of implementing the new plan to revive a stalled economy.

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