The impressions and political calculations raised by the sudden resignation of the prominent statesman and judge Samir Al-Rifai from the Senate and its presidency on Sunday morning are accumulating and crowded.
But at the very least, these are impressions that implicitly suggest that the season of “change” in the top positions in the state has sounded its whistle in one way or another.
Al-Rifai submitted his resignation from his position as Deputy Speaker of the Senate, and the King immediately awarded him the Royal Medal of Excellence of the First Class in recognition of his dedicated efforts in the previous period.
A royal decree was issued accepting Rifai's resignation. However, this coincided with another decree filling his vacant seat in the Senate, with former Prime Minister Dr. Omar Razzaz being appointed as a member of the Senate.
A royal decree was issued accepting Rifai's resignation. However, it coincided with another decree filling his vacant seat in the Senate, with the appointment of former Prime Minister Dr. Omar Razzaz as a member of the Senate, in addition to the appointment of another member, also unexpectedly, Dr. Hind Abu Shaar, suggesting that a later member of the council will submit his resignation later.
These formations in the King's Council and the Legislative Chamber of Parliament are not decided by chance or based on personal considerations.
What observers are now waiting for is the next step after veteran Rifai’s resignation from his position in the Senate, as the familiar impression is that this resignation is a prelude to Rifai himself being in another high-ranking executive position, unless the considerations are far from this context.
Al-Rifai’s resignation from his senior position in one of the most important advisory institutions of the Royal Palace changes the dynamics of the Senate itself, as the veteran Speaker of the Senate, Faisal Al-Fayez, could obtain a renewal of confidence in the next stage.
As a result, a special space is available within the Senate for another player, former Prime Minister Dr. Abdullah Ensour, who remained the second deputy speaker of the Senate after Rifai.
The overall background of these important formations is not yet known. But they followed a wave of criticism of the performance of some ministers in the government and messages of systemic change that were picked up early, immediately after the symbolic celebration of the anniversary of Independence Day, when King Abdullah II addressed his people directly, and the speeches that were customary in the official Independence Day ceremony were not delivered by the heads of the authorities.
It is reported that the palace establishment received an assessment from two former prime ministers recommending changes due to the public's difficulty in accepting the current government.
The full background of these important reshuffles is not yet known. However, they followed a wave of criticism of the performance of some government ministers and signals of systemic change that were picked up early, immediately after the official celebrations of Independence Day.
Al-Razzaz, in turn, received an answer to a question he had been asking among those close to him: Why was I not appointed to the Senate previously?
The appointment of Al-Razzaz to the Senate puts an end to the speculations that placed him in another prominent position within state institutions.
Most importantly, these reshuffles and changes are structural and fundamental. They followed a heated debate surrounding the performance of some prominent government ministers, and mounting criticism of the cabinet of Prime Minister Dr. Jaafar Hassan.
This was followed by cracks and problems in the relationship between the executive and legislative branches, and discussions related to the decision of at least five senior officials to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in conjunction with the Independence Day celebrations.
The discovery of embezzlement by employees in the Ministry of Finance was among the important bureaucratic events.
Likewise, there is the controversy related to legislation recently passed by the government that contradicts the modernization paths that Al-Rifai practically led and managed in the name of the royal authority more than two years ago, when he chaired a broad committee that produced political modernization recommendations that the government now contradicts.
These changes were accompanied by a famous article by former Interior Minister Hussein Majali, in which he quoted strategic circles expressing fears about what might happen in the West Bank later.
Later, oneof the most prominent statesmen and politicians, former President Abdul Karim Al-Kabariti, also entered the fray on Sunday morning, when he warned in an editorial published in the Politics and Society magazine about Israeli hegemonic policies, annexation projects, displacement, and demographic manipulation, which represent the greatest strategic challenge to the Kingdom at a critical, sensitive, and dangerous historical moment.
