Source: France 24
The unrest in Tunisia and Egypt has sparked protest movements throughout the Arab world. In Jordan, protesters have called for a serious political reform process. Marwan Muasher explained to France24 that, since King Abdullah II has come to power, he has presided over seven different governments, each charged with implementing reform and each failing to do so. The political and business elites of the country have worked hard to maintain Jordan’s status quo, Muasher said, and “serious efforts that would widen decision making processes and institute checks and balances have been blocked along the way.”
The Jordanian government's efforts to subsidize basic foodstuffs and raise public-sector wages will not be enough to ameliorate the calls for serious political reform, Muasher said. The economic measures taken by the government in Jordan are only addressing one of the protesters’ grievances. Ultimately, Muasher concluded, these protests are about political reform and democracy, not the economy.