The resignation of the First Deputy Prime Minister, former Prime Minister Samir Al-Rifai, from the Jordanian Senate has led to a reorganization and restructuring of the council, without any change in the leadership structure.
The second deputy, Abdullah Al-Nusour, a prominent figure, aspires, according to what is being said within the council, to advance to the forefront after Al-Rifai vacates his seat at the level of “senior members” of former prime ministers.
The prevailing scenario is that Nsour will assume the position of First Deputy Prime Minister if President Faisal al-Fayez remains in his post. This arrangement, of course, will change if further changes are decided upon.
However, while Al-Nusour is not guaranteed a position as Speaker of Parliament, and thus legislative power, he is nonetheless ambitious. It is generally noted that Al-Rifai himself, as he resigned and received a high royal honor, was careful to convey that the matter was not about his return to another prominent position, at least in the foreseeable future.
The prevailing scenario is that Al-Nusour will assume the position of First Deputy Prime Minister, if President Faisal Al-Fayez remains in his post.
The resignation of Al-Rifai, one of the most prominent figures in the institution, was largely personal in nature, as indicated by his published letter, amid expectations that he will take on roles in the private sector or abroad.
But the most important question is whether the scenario is limited to “filling the vacancies” or is there a trend to restructure the council in conjunction with the convening of the regular parliamentary session expected next November.
While some observers saw no urgent need for restructuring unless parliament was dissolved and the presidency was renewed in two years, others noted that the policy of “filling the vacancies of the notables” had recently become entrenched.
The arrangements in the Senate may not align with the executive branch's agenda regarding an extraordinary parliamentary session next month.
When a seat in the Senate became vacant, Minister Reem Abu Dalbouh was chosen, and Huda Abu Shaar was appointed in the north of the country following a death. After Mustafa Hamarneh's resignation, Amjad Jumaian was appointed, and finally, after Rifai's departure, former Prime Minister Omar Razzaz was appointed.
The arrangements in the Senate may not be consistent with the executive branch's agenda regarding an extraordinary parliamentary session next month, lasting 8 weeks, during which the government will advance about 7 pieces of legislation, some of which will raise controversy.
At the top of the legislative government’s priorities in the extraordinary session is the new Local Administration Law, which is facing widespread rejection, especially with regard to the amendments to the municipal and provincial council elections.
While the fate of the amended version of the Social Security Law is still unknown, the new Real Estate Ownership Law contains provisions that may lead to discussions and objections, especially those related to raising some fees and taxes on residential buildings and properties (not commercially transferable or rented), as well as expanding the government's powers of expropriation for the purposes of major projects.
On the other hand, the government of Jaafar Hassan finds itself facing the task of resolving some key issues, the most important of which is the decision that was previously taken and enjoyed constitutional legitimacy, to abolish the structure of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and to establish the “Ministry of Human Resources and Education”.
All that is happening are structural institutional correction procedures linked to a plan to reorganize the internal landscape.
The decision requires a cabinet reshuffle, meaning the resignation of the current Minister of Education and Higher Education, Azmi Mahafza, and the appointment of a new minister, or reassigning Mahafza to the newly created portfolio.
This may explain why Hassan delayed finalizing the cabinet reshuffle, especially given the constitutional timeframe for any such reshuffle that addresses the new structure of the Ministry of Human Resources. This presents Hassan with a golden opportunity to utilize the reshuffle to remove some ministers or appoint replacements.
All of these considerations within the executive and legislative authorities in Jordan point to a time limit, and the upcoming extraordinary session may represent the main obstacle to it.
Meanwhile, the “retirement” lists included a wide range of officers of the ranks of colonel and brigadier general in the security forces, as part of the restructuring process.
In summary, everything that has been happening since the Independence Day celebrations, and will happen in the coming weeks, is a structural institutional correction process related to a plan to rearrange the internal landscape.
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