Analyst: People are unhappy with the political status quo, as well as with the economy and unemployment
For 25 weeks in a row, dozens of Jordanian activists and former military officers have gathered at the Fourth Circle, a large roundabout near the prime minister’s office in central Amman. They are demanding economic and political reforms, a crackdown on corruption and more involvement in the political process.
The weekly protests drew large numbers when they first started last year [1]. They succeeded in toppling the government [2] of former prime minister Hani al-Mulqi, paving the way for the rise of the current prime minister, Omar al-Razzaz, who at the time promised Jordanians major economic and political reforms.
“There is an economic problem in Jordan that affects many people, but it appears that East Bank Jordanians and people living in rural areas and areas where there is high unemployment among youth are the major cause of the current protests,” Daoud Kuttab, a political analyst and award-winning Palestinian journalist living in the Jordanian capital, told The Media Line.
“In addition, there is a group of retired generals and other military officers, mostly East Bank Jordanians, who are dissatisfied with the loss of support and benefits they were getting from the Jordanian state,” Kuttab said. “They are also protesting.”
The initial protests last June took authorities by surprise. But since then, the government has arrested many leaders of the popular movement and made a series of gestures that affected the number of participants.
Kuttab, nonetheless, says many of the gestures were superficial.
“Prime Minister Razzaz made a governmental shuffle that didn’t satisfy many people who have been vocal in publicly criticizing the government,” he said.
But public pressure is mounting against both the government and King Abdullah II. The economy is in shambles, suffering from lack of investment and high unemployment. The education, transportation and health sectors are in desperate need of cash and reforms.
Rakan, a protester who gave only his first name for fear of reprisals, told The Media Line that the low turnout in recent weeks doesn’t mean people are satisfied with the government’s performance.
“Governments change, and officials come and go – and they get richer,” he said. “We are still the ones suffering from this continually bad economy.”
Rakan added that he and many others would continue to come.
“I think people are watching the situation closely, and if things don’t change immediately, they will [start to] come out in the thousands,” he exclaimed.
At a recent sit-in, protesters chanted slogans blaming the Razzaz government for the country’s problems. Attorney Manal Adwan told The Media Line that the royal palace was also to blame.
“The king is an official, and he’s involved. He can force change, and we expect him to do something,” Adwan said.
The king is fully aware of the challenges facing Jordan, Kuttab says.
“I think the government and the palace are slightly worried, and are acting worried,” he told The Media Line.
“They are acting in an erratic way. They are arresting people and then releasing them. They are unsure what to do with the explosion of public protest on social media and in different outlets [used] to express opposition,” he continued. “People are unhappy with the status quo.”
In an attempt to ease the tension, Abdullah directed the government to issue a general amnesty for prisoners in December. He also appeared at a mosque without a guard, and prayed among citizens. And to show that he’s in touch with the people, he has also appeared on the streets of Amman eating falafel with his family in a move seen by some as an attempt to retain his popularity.
The king also held a series of meetings with journalists in December. He stressed that he was “excited about the future of Jordan, which has great opportunities,” and criticized what he called rumors and the promoters of fake news.
The stability of Jordan, a key US ally, is important to the region and internationally. The economic crisis and widespread corruption there come at a time when Amman is trying to steer itself away from regional conflagrations and balance its role ahead of the Trump Administration’s introduction of its so-called Deal of the Century.
Kuttab admits that the Hashemite Kingdom is in a difficult position.
“Jordan is caught between a rock and a hard place,” he said. “On one hand, it is opposed to the US efforts toward peace and trying to bypass the Palestinian leadership. At the same time, the domestic economic situation requires help from the country’s allies.
To lessen the pain, Abdullah visited Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates last week. On Thursday, he hosted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Iraqi President Barham Salih in an attempt to find an economic alternative to the upcoming conference in Bahrain, where the US will unveil financial inducements to get Israeli-Palestinian talks moving again.
Jordan has yet to publicly take a position on the Bahrain conference.
The small kingdom has been an island of relative stability in a sea full of storms. Its neighbors depend on Amman to stop the infiltration of extremism and terrorists from Syria and Iraq, but of course for a price. But the threat appears to be subsiding, and with that, Jordan has lost much of its economic and financial aid.