AMMAN — The Center for Strategic Studies (CSS) at the
University of Jordan published on Sunday the results of a poll showing a decline
in trust towards the current cabinet, as well as general distrust in democracy
and political reform.
اضافة اعلان
CSS found that Jordanians’ confidence in the government has “drastically”
declined 200 days after its formation. Over half (57 percent) of Jordanians indicated
that they do not trust the government, showing a 9 percent increase in
comparison to when the government first assumed its responsibilities.
Only 42 percent of Jordanians believed that the government
was able to fulfill the responsibilities pending from the previous government,
mainly the
COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease from 53 percent who believed that when
the government was initially formed.
In 200 days, Jordanians’ confidence in Prime Minister
Bisher Al-Khasawneh’s ability to attend to his responsibilities decreased from 56 percent
when was first assigned to 42 percent. The confidence in the ministerial
cabinet to fulfill their responsibilities decreased from 53 percent to 39 percent.
Zaid Eyadat, the Director of CSS, told Jordan News that “We are doing our part when we point out the government’s faults, and it’s
up to them to take it or leave it.”
“Khasawneh’s cabinet does not respond as effectively as the
previous cabinets. We have nothing more to do but to knock on their house’s
doors to get a response,” he said.
The research also identified trends and problems that go
beyond Khasawneh’s government. Only half of Jordanian citizens rejected the
idea that "our cultural structure does not fit democracy and Jordanians
are not qualified for democracy." The other half agreed that the
continuation of the social and tribal structure unchanged is blocking the
transformation process towards a democracy in Jordan.
Half of Jordanians reported that they have no confidence in
the government's seriousness towards working on new laws governing political
life.
Jordanian citizens’ trust in the Kingdom’s institutions has
steadily declined since Khasawneh first formed his cabinet, according to the
report. The majority of Jordanians trust the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, the
Public Security Directorate, and the General Intelligence Department, instead
of governmental institutions.
According to the poll, the overwhelming majority (94 percent)
of Jordanians believe that the economy and administrative bodies are “infested
with corruption”, and 82 percent of citizens believe that the government is not
serious nor willing to fight corruption.
Accordingly, 50 percent of the population believe that
ministers and senior state officials are most likely to contribute to the
spread of corruption, and 23 percent believe businessmen and bigger merchants
are the second top accomplices to the spread of corruption.
Regarding the criteria for hiring senior state officials,
Jordanians believe that personal connections, kinship, tribal affiliation, and “loyalty
to the policies of the government” are the most decisive factors guaranteeing a
higher position in the public sector. Only 17 percent believe that senior state
jobs are given based on a person’s qualifications and efficiency.
CSS has described the process of political reform as
“walking on water.” The center found that 50 percent of respondents believe
that serious political reform will never become a reality in Jordan.
The vast majority of Jordanians (80 percent) believed that
political reform must be carried out in a phased, gradual step-by-step manner. Alternatively,
31 percent believed that a profound, one-time political reform solution is the
only way to change the Kingdom for the better.
Whereas 40 percent believe that the government is unable to
draft a new election law for the Lower House, 48 percent of Jordanians believe
that the government is unable to draft a new election law for local councils,
and 38 percent believe that the government is unable to draft a new law for
syndicates.
Regarding equality and justice in the Jordanian society, the
majority of Jordanians believe that equal rights and duties are not applicable
among Jordanians. Over half (56 percent) of Jordanians believe that there is no
discrimination among Jordanians on the basis of religion.
In addition, the public poll identified a growing lack of
trust among Jordanians themselves.
This means that Jordanians and people living in Jordan do
not trust each other, which is a “dangerous indicator of the stability of
society and an obstacle in achieving economic growth and political reformation,”
the CSS director said in a press conference.
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