Amman, Sept. 9 (Petra) — The Royal Hashemite Documentation Center has unveiled a historic document dated September 7, 1946, which records the first cabinet reshuffle request in the government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, under the leadership of Prime Minister Ibrahim Hashem. This request came just a few months after the declaration of independence.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Center explained that the document was addressed to His Majesty King Abdullah I ibn Al-Hussein. It shows that the Prime Minister submitted the reshuffle request in light of developments in the country, proposing the appointment of Sheikh Fahmi Effendi Hashem as Chief Justice and Minister of Justice, Muslim Pasha Al-Attar as Minister of Interior and Minister of Trade and Agriculture, Mohammad Pasha Al-Shuraiki as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Education, and Nicola Bek Ghanma as Minister of Finance.

The document highlights the early constitutional style of formal communication between the head of government and the Hashemite throne. The text includes a respectful request for royal approval of the proposed changes, stating: “if it may please Your Majesty.”

This document holds particular significance as it serves as a testament to the early steps in building the modern Jordanian state. It reflects the nature of cabinet formation during that formative period, where it was common for a single minister to oversee multiple portfolios due to the unique circumstances and the limited availability of political cadres at the time.

//Petra// WH
09/09/2025 11:05:04