Former Jordan PM says country needs more freedom, social justice

A former Jordanian prime minister has criticised political and economic conditions in his country, saying Jordan needed more freedom and social justice.

Adnan Badran's cabinet was short-lived, serving between April and November 2005. His government resigned in the wake of hotel bombings in the capital, Amman, and issues related to the slow pace of reforms.

Speaking to a local television station, the former university professor said he was not given an opportunity to “implement his vision,” adding that every prime minister in Jordan is faced with hurdles which prevents them from advancing or making any progress.

"Jordan cannot stay like this," Badran said during a talk show on Amman TV.

He added that there should be more freedom and justice in the kingdom, hoping that his children and grandchildren "will see Jordan pay off its debts".

Badran held successive governments responsible for the country's current problems, especially those related to its finances. He said his cabinet had managed to lessen the financial deficit.

Jordan is very reliant on foreign aid. It is the third-largest recipient of US foreign aid after Afghanistan and Israel.

The World Bank says the country is heavily in debt and has an unemployment rate of around 23 percent.

Jordanian government data put the country's national debt at just over $42 billion in September 2022 or 88.2 percent of its nominal GDP.

The economy took a major hit during the coronavirus pandemic.

The country of around 11.2 million people was also rated "not free" in the Freedom House's annual study of political rights and civil liberties worldwide last year, with many journalists and activists being detained.