AMMAN: King Abdullah of Jordan sacked the government Tuesday after weeks of protests, but his choice of replacement premier failed to satisfy the powerful Islamist opposition's demands for reform. The king named Maaruf Bakhit, 64, to replace Samir Rifai, 43, with orders to carry out “true political reforms,” the palace said, but the Islamists criticized the choice, saying he is not a reformist. “Bakhit's mission is to take practical, quick and tangible steps to launch true political reforms, enhance Jordan's democratic drive and ensure safe and decent living for all Jordanians,” a palace statement said. Bakhit said he is “committed” to reforms. “We are committed to taking concrete steps to enhance political, economic and social reforms,” he said. But Zaki Bani Rsheid, a leader of the Islamic Action Front (IAF), said Bakhit, who previously served as prime minister from 2005 to 2007, “is a not a man of reforms.” “He carried out the worst parliamentary elections in Jordan in 2007. He is not the right person to run things at this current state and get Jordan out of crisis,” Bani Rsheid said. The Islamists have long charged that the 2007 election was rigged after only six of the IAF's 22 candidates were victorious that year, a tally sharply down on the 17 seats the group won in the previous polls in 2003. Loyalists of the king again won a landslide in new elections last November after the IAF boycotted the poll in protest at constituency boundaries they said under-represented their urban strongholds. “We need a man who is well respected by the people, a man who does not have a history of corruption and oppression. How can he (Bakhit) lead political reform?” Bani Rsheid asked. Bakhit said he will give priority to “starting a dialogue with all segments of society.” “Dialogue will be inclusive to help build strong and capable political parties,” he said, adding that the Islamist opposition “will be among the first to be included” in the process. IAF chief Hamzah Mansur said that “with the choice of Bakhit, it's obvious that reforms have not started yet”. “We are against Bakhit because our experience with him is not encouraging,” Mansur said. – Agence France
