What are the prospects for Jordanian Prime Minister Fayez Al-Tarawneh being able to bring about real reform, asks Khetam Malkawi in Amman As the demonstrations in downtown Amman get bigger in size and gather momentum, there have been increasing calls for the government of Jordanian Prime Minister Fayez Al-Tarawneh, in office for less than a month, to leave, with the public apparently believing that it has got off to a poor start. Jordan's Islamists, leading large demonstrations against the government and mobilising the public at large, have already announced that they are sceptical of Al-Tarawneh's ability to deliver reforms. They want the prime minister to step down from office and for the formation of a national salvation government with its members drawn from the country's various political parties. They also want the Jordanian constitution to be reformed, such that the government will be elected directly by the people rather than being appointed by the king. Hamza Mansour, secretary-general of Jordan's largest opposition party the Islamic Action Front, said that the Al-Tarawneh government would not be able to achieve the desired reforms. What was needed at this stage, Mansour said, was a government able to meet people's demands, and Al-Tarawneh, who recently warned of tough economic conditions ahead, faces a tough battle in persuading the public that he is the man to meet them. The Al-Tarawneh government was sworn in on 4 May, becoming the tenth since king Abdullah ascended the throne in 1999. It is tasked with introducing a new elections law designed to encourage the participation of Jordanian political parties in the legislative elections. In his letter of appointment, King Abdullah stressed that the planned elections law should "achieve justice among all citizens and ensure the true representation of all segments of society," adding that procedures should begin as soon as possible to pave the way for holding elections before the end of the year. However, many Jordanian activists are concerned that the government may back a one- person, one-vote electoral system for the elections, something rejected by the opposition. Meanwhile, the country's Islamists are demanding greater dialogue, and they claim that the Al-Tarawneh government has not been serious in promoting that. "Al-Tarawneh's position towards the Islamists is not friendly," commented Al-Ghad columnist Fahed Khitan, who described Al-Tarawneh as being different from his predecessor, who had spearheaded efforts to build ties between the government and the Islamist movement. Despite Islamist opposition to the planned electoral system, no announcement has been made to change it or to alter the schedule for introducing the draft law to parliament. According to Khitan, this is an indication that Al-Tarawneh is not willing to engage in dialogue with the Islamists. "It is not in the interests of the state to boycott the Islamists, and it should find a way for dialogue with them," Khitan said, adding that the presence of the Islamists was essential to the reform process in Jordan. Al-Tarawneh has also made statements that will make poorer Jordanians unhappy, announcing that the prices of many staples will rise at the end of May and that electricity and fuel prices will have to rise to offset the country's budget deficit. The budget gap for the current year is estimated at $1.44 billion, or around 4.6 per cent of gross domestic product. Meanwhile, an opinion poll conducted by the University of Jordan's Centre for Strategic Studies 10 days after the formation of al-Tarawneh's government, showed that only 56 per cent of Jordanians had confidence in the prime minister's ability to carry out political reforms. According to Khitan, the Al-Tarawneh government has not been able to build good relations with the public or the country's political parties. In an article entitled "Al-Tarawneh's government loses its 100-day tenure," the honeymoon period given to a new government when it comes into office, Khitan said that the government may not even be able to finish its first 100 days in office, though it will probably be able to obtain a parliamentary vote of confidence for its work on the new elections law. If the parliament endorses the elections law, the prime minister will likely recommend an early dissolution and the holding of parliamentary elections, requiring him to submit his resignation to the king in accordance with the new constitutional amendments. However, broader questions about the kingdom's search for reform still remain unanswered, as prime ministers tend to come and go too quickly to achieve any real reforms. These are much needed at this time as Jordan struggles to survive amidst an Arab Spring that has taken the region by storm and a summer that may be politically hotter than ever.
