Akef Mithqal Al-Fayez (Arabic: عاكف مثقال الفايز, Akif Al Fayiz; 15 September 1922 – 8 April 1998) was a Jordanian politician born in Amman, Jordan. He held several ministerial positions and became speaker of the Jordanian Parliament for several sessions and a member of the Jordanian Senate.

Akef Mithqal Sattam Al-Fayez
Sheikh Akef with Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia 1966
Born15 September 1922
DiedApril 8, 1998(1998-04-08) (aged 75)
Resting placeUmm Al Amad, Jordan
OccupationPolitician
Years active1957–1998
ChildrenFaisal Al-Fayez
Parent
Relatives

Family and early life edit

Akef was born and raised in Jordan to one of the most prominent political families the Al-Fayez, to the paramount leader of the Bani Sakher, Mithqal Al-fayez. He was the eldest son from his wife Adul Khair, daughter of Amman's 5th mayor Saeed Khair. He had 6 full brothers who also held various political seats in Jordan, from oldest to youngest are Zaid, Tayil, Talal, Trad, Mohammad, and Mansour Al-Fayez.[1] Akef's own son Faisal Al-Fayez would later succeed him both as the paramount Sheikh of the Beni Sakher and as a political figure in Jordan and the Arab world as the Prime Minister of Jordan.[2][3]

Political career edit

Akef enjoyed one of the most highly decorated political careers in Jordan, ranging from a variety of Ministerial offices and other high ranking politically influential offices. He held ministerial positions ten times and 2 Parliamentary positions, which are:

  • In the government of Ibrahim Hashem , formed on April 24, 1957, as Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Defense in an amendment to the government on October 22, 1957,[4]
  • In the government of Samir Al-Rifai , formed on May 18, 1958, he held the position of Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Construction.[4]
  • in the government of Hazza al-Majali , formed on May 6, 1959, he held the position of Minister of Agriculture and Social Affairs
  • in Bahjat Talhouni 's government, formed on August 29, 1960, he became Minister of Defense
  • In the government of Samir al-Rifai, formed on March 27, 1963. he held the positions of Minister of Public Works and Minister of Transportation
  • Then he held the same positions in the government of Sharif Hussein bin Nasser , formed on April 21, 1963.
  • Akef holds his first position as speaker of the Jordanian Parliament from 1963 till 1966.
  • In the government of Saad Jumah , formed on April 23, 1967, he held the positions of Minister of Transportation and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.
  • In the government of Bahjat Talhouni, formed on October 7, 1967, he held the position of Minister of Communications and Minister of State for Prime Minister Affairs.
  • In the government of Abdelmunim Rifai , formed on March 24, 1969, he became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior
  • He became Vice President and Minister for Prime Minister Affairs in an amendment made to the government on June 30, 1969,
  • in Abdelmunim's government formed on June 27, 1970, he held the position of Minister of State for Prime Minister Affairs
  • Akef later on served as speaker of the Jordanian Parliament for the second time in 1984[5]

Al-Watan Political Party edit

On July 14, 1993, the Al-Watan Political Party has been legalized in Jordan by King Hussein, and Akef Al-Fayez was its leader. The party's ideology is Right of Center, Tribalist.[6] The party was later combined with several other parties to form The National Constitutional Party.[7]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Alon, Yoav (2016). T H E S H A Y K H OF SHAYKHS Mithqal al-Fayiz and Tribal Leader ship in Modern Jordan. Stanford, California: STANFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS STANFORD, CALIFORNIA. p. 91. ISBN 9780804799348.
  2. ^ "Jordanian King authorizes Faisal al-Fayez to form political development government". Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  3. ^ "Jordan appoints new government". 25 October 2003. Retrieved 13 June 2018 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  4. ^ a b Yoav, Alon (2016). T H E S H A Y K H OF SHAYKHS Mithqal al-Fayiz and Tribal Leadership in Modern Jordan. Stanford, California: STANFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS STANFORD, CALIFORNIA. p. 158. ISBN 9780804799348.
  5. ^ Aruri, Nasser (1985). "The PLO and the Jordan option". Third World Quarterly. 7 (4): 884. doi:10.1080/01436598508419873 – via JSTOR.
  6. ^ LUCAS, RUSSELL (2005). INSTITUTIONS AND THE POLITICS OF SURVIVAL IN JORDAN. United States of America: STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS, ALBANY. p. 59. ISBN 0-7914-6445-8.
  7. ^ "Jordanian Political Parties". King Hussein.