Sources reveal date for Jordan's longest-serving government's resignation

Sources informed Roya News that Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh will present his resignation to King Abdullah II on Sunday morning.

This move comes after Khasawneh has served the longest tenure of any prime minister during King Abdullah II's reign, which began on Feb. 7, 1999.

Read more: Jordanian government to hold session amid post-election speculations

Khasawneh’s administration defied speculation about its departure before the parliamentary elections on Sept. 10.

Appointed on Oct. 7, 2020, to succeed Omar Razzaz, Khasawneh has led his government for 1,437 days, including seven reshuffles, surpassing Abdullah Ensour’s record of 1,326 days for the 14th and 15th governments between Nov. 11, 2012, and May 29, 2016.

Speculation is now mounting about who will lead the 20th government.

Sources told Roya News that the cabinet will meet on Sunday morning, coinciding with the start of the week following the parliamentary election results. The constitution does not mandate the government to resign at this point.

Government sources also confirmed to Roya News that there was no cabinet meeting on Saturday evening, contrary to reports by some local media.

Constitutional expert Dr. Laith Nasraween outlined three potential scenarios for the current government’s future:

• Resignation and New Government: The current government resigns and its resignation is accepted by the King. A new government would then be appointed by the King to begin work with the new parliamentary term.
• Resignation and Reappointment: The current government’s resignation is accepted, but Prime Minister Khasawneh is tasked with forming a new government, as there is no constitutional restriction on reappointing the current prime minister.
• Continuation with New Policy Statement: The current government continues its duties post-election, provided it submits a new policy statement to the parliament within a month of its convening. This statement outlines the government's plan and programs for the next term, as required by the Jordanian constitution.