Jordanian COVID-19 Response Faces Political and Social Obstacles

Prime Minister al-Khasawneh leads Jordan’s COVID-19 response (Wikipedia)

As Western countries start to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, Jordan’s re-opening efforts have stalled. The country recently recorded its highest daily total of cases, and the government’s strict COVID-19 restrictions have led to political discontent and chaos.

Despite instituting lockdown procedures, including banning Friday prayers in mosques and extending the nation-wide curfew, Jordan recorded its highest daily infection total of 9,417 on March 15. As a result of this surge in cases, the government was forced to halt its reopening of high schools initiated on March 7 and to reduce the public transport capacity to 50 percent from 75 percent. 

Political chaos has erupted alongside the public health crisis. In early March, the Jordanian Minister of the Interior and Justice Minister were spotted at a restaurant dinner party, flaunting the restrictions that their ministries should have been enforcing. The resulting outcry led to both of their firings by Jordanian Prime Minister al-Khasawneh. 

Then, on March 7, al-Khasawneh reshuffled the cabinet, naming six new ministers in a move seen by experts as an attempt to accelerate economic reforms. Al-Khasawneh, a former diplomat, was appointed in October by Jordanian King Abdullah in hopes of  restoring trust in the Jordanian government, which had failed to combat internal corruption and manage the pandemic effectively. This switch up occurred just 5 months after the creation of a new government, leading political analyst Oraib Rantwani to quip that “Jordan will remain the world record holder for the number of former ministers.”

Now, yet another cabinet reshuffle seems imminent. Jordan’s Health Minister resigned on March 13 after the Salt Hospital ran out of oxygen, resulting in the deaths of at least 7 patients. Five hospital officials later were detained and charged with causing death by association. The government has also been challenged in Parliament with a circulating petition calling for a vote of no-confidence, which would force a new election.

Al-Khasawneh’s government faces popular opposition as well, as protests erupted in Amman over the hospital scandal, the lockdowns, massive economic damage, and the crackdown on civil liberties. The protestors were a mix of Herak, the traditional opposition who seek massive structural reforms, and “self-employed wage-earners hurt by the shutdowns.”  

The prime minister’s long-term COVID response has been far from disastrous. He even won praise from the IMF for his adept handling of the Jordanian economy during the pandemic. However, his economic prowess may not be enough to combat the current popular opposition to his government.