Jordan PM-designate tries to enlist Muslim Brotherhood

Khasawneh in talks with opposition, expected to announce new government to King Abdullah II this weekend, 'Al Rai' reports.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Jordanian PM Awn Khasawneh_311 (photo credit: Reuters)
Jordanian PM Awn Khasawneh_311
(photo credit: Reuters)
Jordan's prime minister designate Awn Khasawneh will hold talks with the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood this week in attempts to include them in his new governing coalition, Jordanian daily Al Rai reported Wednesday.
Islamic Action Front chief Hamzeh Mansour told AFP that his group was waiting to determine whether it would join Jordan's new reform-mandated government after Khasawneh announces its composition.
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The Islamic Action Front had previously refused to join any government that was not democratically elected.
Khasawneh told Ad Dustour on Thursday that while he had not yet explicitly met with the Islamic Action Front's leadership, he was in contact with a number of officials. He said he wanted to see the Muslim Brotherhood as part of the governing coalition, and not the opposition.
He stressed that the Islamic Action Front's desire for parliamentary elections was hard to fulfill, explaining that Jordan's constitution would not allow for temporary amendments to the election law until a new parliament was formed.
According to AFP, Khasawneh also said he was in talks with the opposition and is expected to announce Amman's new government to King Abdullah II this weekend.
King Abdullah on Monday sacked his cabinet and asked Khaswaneh, an international jurist, to head a new administration, in a move to placate protesters calling for faster reforms, said officials and palace sources on Monday. Khasawneh would replace Marouf al-Bakhit, who was appointed in February but resigned October 17.
Islamists had rejected an offer to join Bakhit's government soon after its creation, saying it would only join a government that was elected through "national consensus and parliamentary elections."
Reuters contributed to this report.