Groups Opposing Jordan’s King Abdallah II Bring Protests to Congress

Two Jordanian organizations denouncing the rule of King Abdallah II and demanding constitutional reform brought their case to Congress on Tuesday. At a news conference, members of the Jordan National Council and Jordan National Movement charged that the ruling regime had skimmed some $7.4 billion in foreign aid during the past ten years. JNC leader Adnan Atyat called Abdallah’s government “a corrupt dictatorship”; and JNM member Abdul-Salam Al-Muall clarified that the groups favor retaining the constitutional-monarchy form of government, but, “We want the king to stay in his palace,” not running the government. The opposition complains that King Abdallah has not yet made good on his vow to pass legislation that will create a government based on parliamentary majority.