Jordanian Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh on Dec. 22 told lower house of parliament that his government intended to review all deals which were worked out by previous governments for the privatisation of the telecommunication, cement and mining sectors. He raised the possibility of the state repurchasing certain assets from the private sector. “Privatisation is an economic and social approach that has positive and negative aspects. Its success depends on several factors, including a transparent mechanism and the existence of legislations that prevent manipulation,” Khasawneh, a former International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurist, said.
The chamber has started a debate upon a motion by 28 deputies that question the feasibility of privatizing Jordan telecom, the cement factory, the Arab Potash co. and the Jordan Phosphate Mining Co. over the past decade. Some lawmakers charged that the privatisation of state-owned firms involved fraud and “stealing of public funds”. Responding to their remarks, Khasawneh conceded some “suspicion” exists over the privatisation deals.