The prime minister of Jordan, Bisher al-Khasawneh, changed the members of his cabinet this week. The change is in line with his government's plan to meet the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
It's important for the country as its economy has suffered huge losses caused by the coronavirus. Khasawneh relieved two ministers of their post after they violated the coronavirus rules of the country. He also appointed six new cabinet members.
Jordan's new interior minister was previously in charge of the country's coronavirus response
One of the newly appointed ministers of Khasawneh's 28 member cabinet, Brigadier General Mazen Araya, has been in charge of Jordan's coronavirus crisis center. He was appointed as the interior minister.
According to Jordan officials, the new cabinet members will give Khasawneh the chance to focus and solve the social and economic problems suffered by the country. Khasawneh, who studied outside the country, was made the prime minister by the King of Jordan late last year.
He was appointed to convince the public to trust the government. Government trust in Jordan reduced during the pandemic, as the government's promises to improve the economy went unfulfilled.
Jordan is suffering from a more contagious variant of the coronavirus
The COVID-19 infection rate in Jordan increased after a more contagious variant of the coronavirus was discovered in the country. The rise in infections has further damaged the economy and led to increased restrictions on public gatherings.
Khasawneh retained Mohammad Al Ississ as finance minister during the cabinet reshuffle. He negotiated a four-year IMF program worth $1.3 billion, which led to worldwide recognition from finance experts. He also directed the economy during the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Jordan's economy fell by 3% in 2020. It is regarded as its worst performance in decades, and it was caused by coronavirus restrictions and a drop in the revenue obtained from tourism. The government and the IMF predict that the country will recover, especially as Jordan begins to implement the directives given by the IMF.