A Jordan without the Hashemites

Jordan was taken by surprise with the candid interview given by HM King Abdullah II to the official Jordanian news agency Petra. The complete text of the interview can be read in Black Iris Blog.

The interview answered a lot of the hot questions and worries that were vibrating through the minds of Jordanians in the past two months. I am not gonna comment on the answers here, but to reflect again on the "royal fix" ability of the Hashemites to interfere when things turn to be ugly and declare themselves again as the sole balance of power and stability in the country.

What I read, heared and listened to in the past two months was utterly depressing. Again the "political and intellectual elite" of this country of high education levels has failed to engage in a constructive dialogue. Slander, lies, aggressive statements and political chaos was all over the country. The Governemnt was just unable to provide trustworthy answers to the people and the public opinion was hijacked by conspiracy theories, aggressive attacks on the tribe of "liberals" enjoying by from the tribe of corrupted bureaucrates who yearn to go back to office and consume whatever left of the country's resources.

Then enter the King.

With clearly crafted answers to difficult questions, he not only did provide adequate answers (regardless of your own preferences) but provided a cohesive framework to promote the economic policies of global integration, privatization and liberal reforms based on private sector empowerment and investment in human capital that Jordan has implemented. The answers of the King crystallize the economic philosophy that is being used in Jordan and can be a reference for benchmarking of implementation.

The experience of the past two months has reiterated the chronic problem of lack of constructive debate in Jordan and the tendency of the political and socio-economic elite to draw back to the divisive rather than collective elements that should be a powerful tool for stability in a modern society.

A lot of divisions appeared and were strengthened during the case of bad debate that we had. Jordanian-Palestinian dichotomy was present in the statements of many politicians and writers especially the ones attacking the Chief of the Royal Court and the "liberal" figues of the government and economic elites. Former Prime Ministers did show their "resentment" with the current policies, although ALL of them, except for Ahmad Obeidat did implement privatization policies and were engaged in business-politics transactions during their "productive" years.

Ideological Parties used all bleak and frustration vocabulary that can be used in their statements, describing a doomsday for Jordan while so-called "nationalistic" parties and figures tried the game of attacking economic policies while showing support for the King.

I am a true believer in constitutional monarchy, and I think the King should not act as the government's laywer but when a government is unable to be transparent, accountable and face up bravely to onslught by the opposition the King has to interfere.

The ultimate impact of the King's intervention was another reminder that a Jordan without Hashemites will be engulfed in racial and ideological aggressions and divisions with the absence of strong citizenship values and principles. This is another main reason why ordinary Jordanians who care for the well being and stability of their country will always support the stability of the Jordanian Hashemite regime. However, I personally think this is a huge burden on the King and I hope he will not have to draw from his public trust account to defend the succession of weak governments that we lived with in the last decade and so. Responsibility for managing the state is on the Government's shoulders, and when it falls heavily under the weight, strength should be injected in the government with more management and politics caliber.