Amman , Jordan ( CNN ) -- Jordan 's King Abdullah II swore in a new government Wednesday with a mandate for political reform , a former general at its head and several opposition and media figures among its ranks . Abdullah shook up his Cabinet last week amid protests at home . While the king gave new prime minister Marouf al Bakhit orders to implement `` genuine political reform , '' Bakhit 's appointment was seen as an attempt to shore up support among Jordan 's Bedouin tribes -- the bedrock of the monarchy . Bakhit is a former national security official who served a previous stint as prime minister , ending in 2007 . His Cabinet includes members of several Jordanian political parties , opposition groups , the editor of a newspaper that is sometimes critical of the government and one person considered an independent Islamist . Jordan 's economy has been hit hard by the global economic downturn and fast-rising commodity prices . As in nearby Egypt , where longtime strongman Hosni Mubarak faces the toughest challenge to his nearly 30-year rule , youth unemployment is high . Officials close to the palace told CNN last week that Abdullah is trying to turn a regional upheaval into an opportunity for reform . Bakhit will serve as defense minister as well as prime minister in the new government , while Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and Finance Minister Mohammad Abu Hammour kept their portfolios in the shakeup . Hussein Mjalli , a former head of the Jordanian lawyer 's association and member of the country 's opposition Baath Party , is the new justice minister . A journalist , Tareq Masarweh , joined the Cabinet as culture minister , while Taher Odwan , the editor of the Jordanian daily newspaper Arab Al Yawm , will take the post of communications minister . Jordan 's Muslim Brotherhood has refused an offer to join the government , arguing that the prime minister should be chosen by parliament instead of the king . But an independent Islamist , Abdul Raheem Ekour , was named the kingdom 's Islamic affairs minister . CNN 's Caroline Faraj contributed to this report .
King Abdullah II swore in a new Cabinet Wednesday . The cabinet includes the country's first female prime minister and its second woman to hold that position -- but it also has two men who are not part of any political party.