Many observers and political analysts viewed the recent case involving the former Minister of Labor who was asked to resign over a conflict of interest, while the Royal Decree accepting his resignation was delayed as evidence that Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan's government is facing a major political crisis, potentially signaling its imminent departure from office.
اضافة اعلان
In reality, describing the situation as a "political crisis" within the government is a significant exaggeration and, in the Jordanian context, largely misplaced.
The reason is simple: anyone familiar with how ministers are typically brought into government during cabinet formation knows that such incidents are unlikely to trigger a genuine political crisis within the Cabinet, among its members, or between ministers and the prime minister.
Yes, I deliberately use the term "recruiting" rather than "appointing." That is because many ministers are selected through highly traditional means, with personal networks, familiarity, and informal quotas often playing a greater role than structured programs, qualifications, or clearly defined selection criteria.
Nor is this the first ministerial resignation in Jordan's history, or the first time a minister has been asked to step down.
During the reign of His Majesty King Abdullah II, several governments have witnessed ministers resigning while in office for a variety of reasons, most commonly administrative or personal, or in response to specific events, Cabinet reshuffles have also frequently included the acceptance of ministerial resignations and the appointment of replacements.
Among the most notable examples was in 2018, when then-Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Lina Annab and then-Minister of Education Azmi Mahafzah resigned from Prime Minister Omar Razzaz's government following the Dead Sea tragedy. Their resignations were accepted through a Royal Decree.
Similarly, during the governments of Bisher Al-Khasawneh (2020–2024), several ministers resigned for various reasons, including violations of public health regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic, while others left office through subsequent cabinet reshuffles after their resignations were accepted.
Such developments are entirely normal in the life of any government. However, they should not be interpreted as evidence of a political crisis.
Jordan's political parties and parliamentary blocs remain largely absent from any meaningful role in consultations over government formation. As a result, it is hardly surprising that a prime minister-designate tends to rely on individuals he already knows or has previously worked with.
Unfortunately, this remains one of the most common features of cabinet formation in Jordan, often accompanied by pressure from various political and institutional actors seeking to secure positions for preferred candidates.
Ultimately, resignations in Jordan are less common than dismissals or cabinet reshuffles. In many cases, ministers leave office through a Royal Decree announcing a cabinet reshuffle without first submitting a personal resignation.
When individual resignations do occur, they are often linked to major public incidents, the assumption of political responsibility, or legal, administrative, or personal considerations.
