The Jordanian parliament joined the citizens and trade unions in their protest against the new tax law, deeming it invalid and saying it does not meet the demands and aspirations of the people.
Protests and marches continue to be held in Jordanian cities, especially after evening prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. Syndicates, meanwhile, took an escalatory step by announcing they will move forward with a sit-in scheduled for next Wednesday.
Chairing a National Policies Council meeting, King Abdullah II urged the government and parliament to lead a comprehensive and rational national dialogue to reach a consensus on an income tax draft law that would not burden the public.
He stressed the importance of the active participation of political parties, professional associations and civil society institutions in the dialogue, calling on them to provide realistic and workable recommendations that serve national interests.
He affirmed that it is unfair for citizens to be left alone to carry the burden of financial reform, stressing that shortcomings in providing vital services, such as education, healthcare and transport, will not be tolerated.
“The problem does not lie in Jordan. Jordanians are ready to sacrifice for their country, and with their strong resolve, we will persevere and overcome these challenges, as we have surmounted others before,” reiterated King.
The tripartite negotiations between the unions, parliament and the government to contain the crisis reached a stalemate on Saturday when Jordanian Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki announced that his government refused to withdraw the new tax law given its commitments to the International Monetary Fund.
Parliament speaker Atef Tarawneh said more than 80 deputies, a majority of the 130-member assembly, wanted the government to withdraw the tax bill that has been sent to lawmakers for approval.
“We won’t submit to the dictates of the IMF,” Tarawneh said after meeting the PM.
Thousands of Jordanians took part in protests for two consecutive nights outside the government building, chanting anti-government slogans and calling on King Abdullah to sack the prime minister.
