[Arab News] Jordan's powerful Islamist opposition on Wednesday urged the country's newly appointed prime minister to step down, calling him the wrong person to introduce democratic reforms and tackle deepening poverty and unemployment.Also, Jordan's King Abdallah made a surprise visit to an impoverished northern village. It was his first such trip since the unrest broke out in neighboring Egypt, and appeared to be an attempt to defuse popular anger over the country's troubles and portray himself as a caring leader.
On Tuesday, Abdallah named Maruf Bakhit prime minister, bowing to public pressure from protests inspired by those in Egypt against geriatric President Hosni Mubarak.
Hamza Mansour, a leader of the opposition Mohammedan Brotherhood's political wing, rejected Bakhit's nomination, saying he "is not the right person for the job." "Bakhit is a security man, a former army general and ex-intelligence official. He doesn't believe in democracy," Mansour told The News Agency that Dare Not be Named. Instead, he said the country needs "a national figure who can tackle Jordan's serious economic and political crisis." Jordan is grappling with a soaring foreign debt estimated at $15 billion, an inflation rate which has swelled by 1.5 percent to 6.1 percent in December and high unemployment and poverty rates -- set at 12 and 25 percent respectively.
Mansour also criticized Bakhit for signing off on Jordan's first casino, which the Brotherhood strongly opposed on the grounds that it violated Islamic principles and encouraged vice. The project was later canceled.
On Tuesday, Abdallah, facing public pressure inspired by the revolt in Tunisia and Egypt, sacked his government and named Bakhit as prime minister, ordering him to move quickly to boost economic opportunities and give Jordanians a greater say in politics.
Bakhit, 63, is a former ambassador to Israel who supports strong ties with the US and Jordan's peace treaty with Israel -- policies which the Brotherhood and the leftists oppose. The Brotherhood advocates the introduction of Shariah law, close relations with Mohammedan nations and Israel's destruction.
Many Jordanians see Bakhit as a tough enforcer of security, which goes against their calls for greater democratic freedoms. Bakhit is an ex-army major general who also served as the chief of Jordan's National Security Agency in the last decade. He is credited with maintaining Jordan's stability following the 2005 triple attacks on hotels in Amman, claimed by Al-Qaeda in Iraq.