WEB DESK
Jordan’s King Abdullah II Tuesday appointed a New Prime Minister, the royal palace said, naming a leading reformer as head of government, in hopes of quelling the largest anti-government protests in recent years.
Cabinet member Omar Razzaz, a Harvard-educated former senior World Bank official, replaced Hani Mulki, who quit yesterday amid widening protests against his government’s austerity program, including a planned tax increase. Mr Razzaz served as education minister in the outgoing Mulki government.
Jordan's King Abdullah to ask PM to resign amid protests: sources: Jordan's King Abdullah II expected to meet PM Hani Mulki later on Monday as protests continue over tax increases. https://t.co/YqI5a09RqF pic.twitter.com/KktW3enqcq
— zdig1 (@zdig1) June 5, 2018
In the appointment letter addressed to Mr Razzaz, the monarch called on the new government to conduct a comprehensive review of the tax system and produce a new tax bill, in cooperation with parliament, unions and other groups.
Meanwhile, protests continued even after Mulki’s resignation. Protest organizers said, they would keep up the pressure, including a one-day strike set for tomorrow until the tax proposal has been shelved.