Protests in Jordan have led to a new prime minister—but will reform remain elusive?

The view from Amman: Rana Sweis

One June evening in Jordan’s capital, Amman, rows of policemen stood in a perfectly straight line next to security forces carrying batons. They blocked cars from a main road and the area known as the Fourth Circle, where the prime ministry rests on a small hill. Loud clapping, chants and cheers rang out. “Death rather than humiliation,” the protestors repeated rhythmically.

After days of widespread protests, the largest since the ill-fated Arab Spring, King Abdullah decided enough was enough and sacked his prime minister. It’s not the first time he’s pulled this move—the new man, Omar Razzaz, is the seventh prime minister since 2011—and, as on previous occasions, it appears to have worked for him. In a scathing rebuke, the king even accused most of his ministers as being asleep. The protests— which were sparked by the introduction of a controversial tax bill and fuelled by longterm issues such as youth unemployment, lack of genuine political participation and a protracted refugee crisis—are over. Jordan’s richer allies in the region, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, pledged $2.5bn in aid to help the country contain domestic anger over the austerity measures and finance development projects.