Third Jordanian PM Resigns Amid Arab Spring

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Foreign Policy reported today that Jordan’s Prime Minister Awn al-Khaswaneh has submitted his resignation papers after less that a year in office. Reportedly, al-Khaswaneh’s actions come as a result of the refusal of the Royal Court to implement meaningful reforms, the last of which is the controversial draft law introduced last month. Al-Khaswaneh’s resignation highlights the potential for instability. Al-Khaswaneh, 62, an International Court of Justice judge, formed his cabinet in October and won a comfortable vote of confidence for his government from parliament in December after pledging to push ahead with reforms.

Black Iris wrote yesterday about the state of Jordanian politics and its parliament, which is described as hitting “rock bottom.” Over the last month alone, Black Iris cites calls from MP Yaya Saud to attack protesters and critics of the state and fights between MP members. What’s worse, writes Black Iris, is the “absurd battle” between the Senate and the Lower House about the civil retirement law that will decide whether to guarantee lifetime pensions to members of the Lower House. Instead of heeding the people’s demands of an end to corruption, unemployment, and rampant poverty the Lower house is asking if they receive guaranteed lifetime salaries. Such antics should not be tolerated, says Black Iris, and concludes calling  for the dissolution of parliament given, he says, “its nauseating state.”