AMMAN // Jordan’s King Abdullah II promised on Sunday to press ahead with a wide-ranging package of reforms, amending elections laws that the opposition says favour pro-palace candidates, and overhauling a public sector widely seen as rife with corruption and nepotism.
Addressing parliament, the king said his “white revolution” was part of home-grown reforms he initiated weeks before the onset of the Arab Spring that saw four of his peers deposed in uprisings. Media commentators said the “white” symbolises purity, honesty, and peaceful change rather than the kind of upheaval that has engulfed some of Jordan’s neighbors.
“Jordan is continuing its quest to develop a regional reform model that is home-grown and based on a clear roadmap with specific reform milestones,” King Abdullah said.
He said his public sector plan would restructure state agencies and advance the quality of education, health care and public transportation.
Meanwhile, he added, parliament should tackle laws governing election and political parties. The Muslim Brotherhood boycotted both elections this year to protest the laws. The opposition says they favour conservative tribal candidates who back the palace.
The next steps will be to build real political parties, the king said. He says he would like to see Jordan’s 23 small and fractured political parties coalesce into two coalitions based on ideology – right and left – for the next parliamentary election.
Currently, voters usually cast ballots on the basis of tribal affiliation and family connections. Although Jordan’s multiparty system was revived in 1991, following a 35-year ban prompted by a 1956 leftist coup attempt, opposition parties remain unable to chart clear programmes, claiming they are intimidated by tight scrutiny and security crackdowns.
Earlier this year, King Abdullah said his reforms would lead to the absolute monarchy taking a step back in running the daily affairs of the state. He said as parliament takes on more responsibility, future monarchs – maybe within five years – will have limited, though still significant responsibilities, mainly preserving their final word in foreign and defence policy.
Reform laws introduced in the past three years eased restrictions on the freedom of speech, opinion and assembly, but officials say it is still taking time to interpret or implement them.
Officials say Jordan is also making a push against corruption, with a powerful business tycoon and a former intelligence chief sentenced to jail in separate cases. Prosecutors are also investigating an additional 200 corruption cases involving serving and former officials.
King Abdullah said some delays in liberalisation stemmed from regional tensions, including the absence of a Palestinian-Israeli peace settlement and regional turbulences sparked by the Arab Spring, such as the civil war in neighbouring Syria.
He said an influx of nearly 600,000 Syrian refugees “depletes our already limited resources and puts enormous pressure on our infrastructure.”
He warned that if the international community “does not move quickly to help us shoulder the burdens of the Syrian crisis, I repeat and emphasise that Jordan is able to take measures to protect the interests of our people and country.” But he did not say if Jordan would close its border.
Jordan has complained of the shortfall of foreign donations to assist Syrian refugees, who are scattered in refugee camps and local communities across the country and now make up around 10 per cent of its 7 million people. The government says it spent $2 billion (Dh7.3 billion) in cash for the refugees’ upkeep last year.
On Thursday, Amnesty International urged world support to help Jordan and other countries hosting Syrian refugees end border restrictions on those fleeing the conflict.
More than 115,000 people have been killed and over 2.1 million forced to flee – mostly to Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt – since the Syrian conflict erupted after a crackdown on protests that began in March 2011 against President Bashar Al Assad.
Jordan depends on donations from the United States and Gulf states to keep its economy afloat. It is saddled by a multi-billion foreign debt, a record $2 billion budget deficit, high inflation and a rising energy bill.
* Associated Press
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Teaching in coronavirus times
Company%20Profile
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Anna and the Apocalypse
Director: John McPhail
Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Mark Benton
Three stars
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
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Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
