Jordan king calls for review of bill that sparked protests

Published June 6, 2018
Demonstrators face Jordanian anti-riot police and security forces during a protest near the prime minister's office in Amman, Jordan, on June 5, 2018. —AFP
Demonstrators face Jordanian anti-riot police and security forces during a protest near the prime minister's office in Amman, Jordan, on June 5, 2018. —AFP
Demonstrators wave Jordanian flags and hold up their lit mobile phones as they face Jordanian police officers during a protest near the prime minister's office in Amman, Jordan. —AFP
Demonstrators wave Jordanian flags and hold up their lit mobile phones as they face Jordanian police officers during a protest near the prime minister's office in Amman, Jordan. —AFP
Demonstrators gather during a protest in Amman, Jordan, on June 5, 2018. —AFP
Demonstrators gather during a protest in Amman, Jordan, on June 5, 2018. —AFP

Jordan's King Abdullah II called for a review of a controversial draft tax law on Tuesday as anti-austerity protesters staged another night of demonstrations in Amman and trade unions vowed to hold a general strike later on Wednesday.

For nearly a week, the capital and other cities have been hit by angry rallies against reforms backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that have brought repeated price hikes.

Prime Minister Hani Mulki stepped down on Monday in an effort to quell the unrest but his departure — and King Abdullah's call to review the law — appear to have done little to reduce public anger.

On Tuesday evening, protesters held another mass rally in Amman after breaking their Ramazan fast, jostling with police and waving Jordanian flags.

Trade unions said the law review was a “positive” step but nonetheless called for a general strike on Wednesday.

Many demonstrators said they wanted more than Mulki's departure.

“We want new people who really want to bring in reforms, we do not want politicians from the same circles who only want to solve the IMF's problems by stealing money from the people's pockets,” one male protester, who declined to give his name, told AFP.

Another, who gave his first name as Khalil, said Jordan's political system, which grants the monarchy vast executive powers, should become more democratic and accountable.

“We must elect the government, so that when errors are made they will be responsible to the people who elected them,” he said.

In a letter charging new premier Omar al-Razzaz with forming a government, King Abdullah II said it “must carry out a comprehensive review of the tax system” to avoid “unjust taxes that do not achieve justice and balance between the incomes of the poor and the rich”.

Late Monday, the king had warned Jordan was “at a crossroads”, blaming the economic woes on regional instability, the burden of hosting hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees and a lack of international support.

Protesters on Monday night chanted “we want rights and duties, not tips and handouts!” and “down with the IMF!” as they gathered under a heavy police presence.

A Jordanian protester holds a sigh reading in arabic, "stay away from my pocket" as others chant slogans during an anti-austerity rally, on June 6, 2018, in front of the Labor Union offices in Amman. —AFP
A Jordanian protester holds a sigh reading in arabic, "stay away from my pocket" as others chant slogans during an anti-austerity rally, on June 6, 2018, in front of the Labor Union offices in Amman. —AFP

Last month, the government proposed a new income tax law, yet to be approved by parliament, aimed at raising taxes on employees by at least five per cent and on companies by between 20 and 40 per cent.

It was the latest in a series of austerity measures since Amman secured a $723-million loan from the IMF in 2016.

Since January, resource-poor Jordan, which suffers from high unemployment and poverty, has seen repeated price rises including for staples such as bread, as well as extra taxes on basic goods.

Fuel prices have risen five times since the start of the year, while electricity bills have surged by 55 per cent since February.

The measures have sparked some of the biggest economic protests in five years.

After a two-hour meeting Tuesday afternoon, head of the trade unions' council Ali al-Abous called on Jordan's new premier to “open a constructive dialogue” with the unions and civil society groups “to get out of this impasse that the draft income tax law has put us in”.

The head of Jordan's Bar Association, Mazen Arshidat, said the unions “were determined to withdraw” the tax reform bill.

Resignation 'not enough'

Jordan, a key US ally, has largely avoided the unrest witnessed by other countries in the region since the Arab Spring revolts broke out in 2011, although protests did flare late that year after the government cut fuel subsidies.

The latest protests started last week when unions called for nationwide demonstrations.

They have rocked several other cities, including Irbid and Jarash in the north, Zarqa in the east, and the southern city of Maan, which saw deadly riots in the 1980s over rising food prices.

A demonstrator holds a sign reading in arabic "As our brother Michael (Jackson) said, they don't care about us" during an anti-austerity rally, on June 6, 2018 in Amman. —AFP
A demonstrator holds a sign reading in arabic "As our brother Michael (Jackson) said, they don't care about us" during an anti-austerity rally, on June 6, 2018 in Amman. —AFP

“When the protests began, they weren't just directed against Mulki as a person, they were against the income tax draft law and the price hikes,” said Bushra Abu Jabbara, a 34-year-old pharmacist.

“We want the government to respond to our demands and withdraw the bill, which hasn't happened yet.”

A majority of deputies — 78 out of 130 — have said they will vote against the draft legislation.

“The income tax draft law is almost certain to be dropped now,” Jordanian political analyst Samih al-Maitah said.

The bill is one of a tranche of measures aimed at slashing Jordan's public debt from over 90 per cent of gross domestic product to 77 per cent by 2021.

King Abdullah said gas supply cuts due to attacks on an Egyptian pipeline to Israel and Jordan had cost the kingdom some $5.6 billion (4.8 billion euros).

He added that the closure of the borders with the kingdom's main export markets, war-torn Syria and Iraq, and the cost of securing those frontiers had added to Jordan's economic woes.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...