Akef Al-Fayez

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.

Family and early life
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. 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.

Political career
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,
 * In the government of Samir Al-Rifai, formed on May 18, 1958, he held the position of Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Construction.
 * 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

Al-Watan Political Party
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. The party was later combined with several other parties to form The National Constitutional Party.