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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 5 June 2018

Jordan PM quits over mass protests against tax increases

By OMAR AKOUR the tax plan, saying
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — it disproportionately
Jordan's King Abdullah targets the poor and the
II on Monday accepted middle class. The king has
the resignation of his indicated he's willing to
embattled prime minister make concessions, saying
and reportedly tapped earlier this week that
a leading reformer as a Jordan's citizens cannot
successor, hoping to quell be expected to bear the
the largest anti-government entire burden of economic
protests in recent years, reform.
which are also seen as a Jordan's government is
potential challenge to his under pressure from the
two-decade-old rule. International Monetary
Jordan is a staunch military Fund to carry out economic
and political ally of the reforms and austerity
West in a turbulent region, measures to rein in growing
and any threat to the public debt.
kingdom's stability is viewed The kingdom has
with concern, particularly experienced an economic
by neighboring Israel and downturn in part because
by the U.S. of prolonged conflict in
Prime Minister Hani Mulki's Jordanian protesters argue with members of the gendarmerie and security forces during a neighboring Syria and
resignation came after demonstration outside the Prime Minister's office in the capital Amman early Monday, June 4, Iraq, and a large influx of
several days of mass 2018. refugees several years ago.
protests across Jordan Associated Press The official unemployment
against a planned tax rate has risen above 18
increase, the latest in a confirmed. the hardships faced by million members. percent, and it's believed
series of economic reforms Mulki is to serve as caretaker ordinary Jordanians, while Hatem Jarrar, a lawyer, said to be double that among
sought by the International until his replacement has criticizing the outgoing the resignation of Mulki is a young Jordanians.
Monetary Fund to get the been named, the state government, saying it had "victory for the Jordanian Abdullah became king in
rising public debt under news agency Petra said. failed to explain the tax bill people who demanded to 1999, taking over from his
control. The government In meetings with Jordanian to citizens. topple the government," late father, Hussein, and
has also raised prices for newspaper editors and Yet he stopped short of adding that protesters has weathered a series of
bread, electricity and fuel. journalists later Monday, saying he would meet would keep pressing political crises. During the
Many Jordanians feel the king promised reforms, protesters' demands for demands for rescinding the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings,
they are being squeezed saying the country must scrapping the bill. tax bill. he promised political
financially by a government meet its challenges Meanwhile, crowds began The recent protests were reforms, but instead
they perceive as corrupt "away from the traditional gathering late Monday largely spontaneous, tightened his rule after the
and aloof, and say they approach," but did not near Mulki's office for the drawing many young outbreak of violent conflicts
are not getting services for give specifics. fifth straight evening of people and members of in the region, including in
the taxes they are asked to Abdullah is the ultimate protests against the tax bill the middle class, rather Syria.
pay. decision-maker on policy, and the recent price hikes. than being organized Israel has maintained
It's not clear if the departure but he has also positioned Protest organizer Ali Abous by traditional opposition discreet security ties with
of the business-friendly Mulki himself as a unifying force said a one-day strike set for groups such as the Muslim Jordan.
will be enough to defuse above the political fray. He Wednesday would still take Brotherhood. Yoav Gallant, a member
growing public anger. has frequently reshuffled or place, despite the Cabinet In a show of non-violence, of Israel's security Cabinet
Government-linked media disbanded governments as changes. protesters raised their hands and retired general, told
said Education Minister a way of quieting criticism. "We want to change the in the air as they were foreign journalists in a
Omar Razzaz, a Harvard- His response to the current path, not the individuals," being pushed away from news conference Monday
educated reformer, has crisis fit that pattern. said Abous, who heads the prime minister's office that it's in Israel's interest
been tapped as Mulki's In his comments Monday, an umbrella group for 15 by helmeted riot police. "that stability will go back
successor, though the he expressed sympathy unions and professional Protest organizers have to Jordan as soon as
choice was not officially for the protesters and associations with half a urged the king to cancel possible."q