Jordan king calls for review of bill that sparked protests
AMMAN: Jordan's King Abdullah II called for a review of a controversial draft tax law Tuesday as anti-austerity protesters staged another night of demonstrations in Amman and trade unions vowed to hold a general strike later 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 Ramadan 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.
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 percent and on companies by between 20 and 40 per cent.
It was the latest in a series of austerity measures since Amman secured a US$723-million loan from the IMF in 2016. — AFP