Jordan

al-Mamlakah al-Urduniyah al-Hashimiyah

Note: In the wake of protracted legislative paralysis, King Abdullah II on November 23, 2009, ordered the dissolution of the House of Representatives and called for early elections. Prime Minister Nader Dahabi, whose government had been criticized for its handling of the recent economic downturn, resigned on December 9 and was succeeded by Samir Rifai, a businessman and former minister to the royal court. Rifai announced a new cabinet on December 14. Meanwhile, new elections were postponed until at least the last quarter of 2010 to permit the new government to enact electoral reforms.

Political Status: Independent constitutional monarchy established May 25, 1946; present constitution adopted January 8, 1952.

Area: 34,495 sq. mi. (89,206 sq. km.), excluding West Bank territory of 2,270 ...