A deputy chief judge of the International Criminal Court at The Hague has been named to replace Jordan's prime minister.
Former Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit, 64, resigned just one day after 70 of the country's 120 parliamentarians called for his ouster.
Awn al-Khasawneh “has a clean slate domestically and internationally,” said Jordanian royal adviser Amjad Adaileh. Khasawneh, served as chief adviser to King Abdullah II's late father, King Hussein.
Accused of corruption during his 2005-2007 term as prime minister, al-Bakhit was seen as dragging his feet on implementing government reforms, an embarrassment especially when the World Economic Forum is slated to open in the country this Friday.
However, al-Bakhit himself only took office in February, following grassroots protests that came along with the rest of the region's “Arab Spring” uprisings.
At the time, King Abdullah II asked his new prime minister to form a new government that would launch a “genuine political reform process” that would “strengthen democracy” and that would provide Jordanians with the “dignified life they deserve,” according to the statement by the Royal Court.
Meanwhile, al-Khasawneh, 61, is considered a liberal, according to the Huffington Post. However, he reportedly enjoys warm relations with the opposition, including Jordan's politically muscular Muslim Brotherhood.
Jamil Abu-Bakr, a spokesman for the powerful Islamist organization said in a statement Monday, “We were hoping that the Cabinet would be sacked, and we wish the prime minister-designate success in serving Jordan and its people.”