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Jordan’s Reform Agenda on Hold

The crisis in Syria has been a catalyst for Jordan to focus on economic, not political, reform and security.
Jordan's King Abdullah (L) shakes hands with U.N.-Arab League envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi at the Royal Palace in Amman October 23, 2013. REUTERS/Jordanian Royal Palace/Yousef Allan/Handout via Reuters (JORDAN - Tags: POLITICS ROYALS) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - RTX14L3R

AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan’s old guards have been making a comeback ever since the onslaught of the Arab Spring began to recede in early 2012. The change started when reformist Prime Minister Awn al-Khasawneh resigned in April 2012 in protest over royal intervention in his policies. Khasawneh, a former international jurist, had tried to reclaim full independence from the royal court and attempted to engage the Islamists — who were leading the opposition — in an open dialogue. King Abdullah then appointed conservative politician Fayez al-Tarawneh as prime minister. The appointment signaled a major shift in the regime’s response to public protests calling for political reforms.

Such a shift was prompted by regional changes in Syria, where jihadists were making their presence felt on the ground and competing with secular opposition groups. Later, the regime would sense the growing public discontent with Egypt’s Islamists, which reflected on Jordanians who opposed a similar takeover by the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan.

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