Khalid Dalal

The speculation is over. Prime Minister Dr Jafar Hassan's second Cabinet reshuffle is now a matter of when, not if.

The Labour Minister Case created a political vacuum to be filled, but Hassan is not a leader known for acting reactively. His approach has consistently been deliberate, methodical, and strategic.

All signs point to mid-August as the likely window for the Cabinet reshuffle. The timing is not accidental. It gives Hassan sufficient room to assess, plan, and act. And if there is one quality defining his leadership, it is decisiveness.

This presents an opportunity for Hassan to rigorously evaluate the performance of every minister — to distinguish those who are delivering from those who are falling short, and to assess not only technical competence but more importantly the ability to lead, to communicate, and to defend the government's record with conviction.

But structural changes alone will not suffice. The reshuffle must go deeper.

Let us be clear: This government does have some gifted communicators. The Prime Minister himself addresses the media and the public with clarity and authority. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates represents Jordan with the requisite diplomatic sophistication. The Minister of Government Communications and Government Spokesperson carries out his responsibilities with political awareness, professionalism, and genuine skill. And the Minister of State for Economic Affairs explains complex economic issues in accessible and sound language to the public.

Yet many other portfolios lack visible and vocal champions, and as a result, valuable opportunities to build public trust are being lost.

This lacuna is a structural challenge. Previous controversies, from the social security law amendments to smaller administrative missteps, have shared a common flaw: The government announced decisions, but the ministers concerned failed to explain their rationale in a way that reassured the public. Citizens were left to fill the void with speculation and, consequently, to frame the narrative themselves.

The Labour Minister Case offered an important lesson: When the government explains itself clearly and promptly, it gains public confidence; when it hesitates, it loses ground. Transparency is not merely an ethical imperative — it is a strategic necessity.

Hassan should therefore bring in ministers who are capable of speaking to the public in their own language. Ministers who can defend government policies in Parliament and before the media. Ministers who understand the regional dynamics which technocrats too often overlook. He needs ministers who can translate complex policy into a coherent narrative the Jordanian public can believe in — one that builds trust rather than erodes it.

This is a delicate art. The public does not respond well to ministers who appear defensive, evasive, or dismissive of legitimate concerns. Citizens judge policy not by spreadsheets, but by their sense of fairness, the clarity of decisions, and the government's ability to explain itself. Hassan needs ministers who can build bridges, not walls, between the government and the people.

Beyond the domestic audience, certain portfolios carry an additional responsibility. Those charged with attracting investment and promoting Jordan, for example, must also be able to make the country's case to international audiences. Their ability to communicate persuasively in foreign media and articulate Jordan's strengths is not merely an advantage; it is an operational necessity. These portfolios require communicators who can project confidence and credibility well beyond the Kingdom's borders.

Returning to the reshuffle, a modest one would send the wrong signal. It would appear reactive — a gesture of concession rather than a strategic recalibration. A broader reshuffle, accompanied by structural changes, would convey that Hassan is preparing his government for a new phase rather than simply extinguishing political fires.

The coming weeks will be a defining moment for Hassan's premiership. If he uses the reshuffle to build a government that is not only competent but also credible — not only efficient but also communicative — he will emerge stronger. If he settles for cosmetic change, a valuable opportunity will be lost.

The signs suggest he is unlikely to hesitate. The reshuffle is coming. And it is likely to be bigger than anyone expects.

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