How to go about things

His Majesty King Abdullah said that the government should reconsider the proposed corrective economic measures and seek alternative avenues for the proposed financial reforms in order to protect low- and middle-income earners, particularly in view of the current economic situation.

Meeting recently with the Senate president, the Lower House speaker and members of both chambers, the King suggested a few guidelines, including boosting economic growth and increasing the economic competitiveness of the national economy, which would ensure that our products find a place in the international markets.

IMF and other international financial institutions have been imposing draconian “reforms” on Jordan and they will strongly, and negatively, affect the middle and lower class, already finding it difficult to make ends meet.

King Abdullah said the government and the Parliament should cooperate in working on macro-economic reforms that would help economic growth and provide employment opportunities, especially to young people, in order to help the country move forward and overcome the many challenges that face the region and, by extension, the Kingdom.

Later he directed the government to reduce expenses, including trimming top officials’ benefits, for obvious reasons.

“There is no one more concerned about the homeland and its citizens than I; nor is there anybody who knows the economic, political and security challenges better than I do, and I am completely confident that we can overcome these hardships,” said the King, stressing the need for government and both Houses of Parliament to collaborate in enacting economic legislation in the next phase of the country’s development process.

King Abdullah also reiterated the importance of obeying the rule of law, the cornerstone of any democratic country and the only guarantee that everybody is treated equally and fairly.

Respect for the law needs to become the country’s ethos and guide all procedures, decisions and actions, said the King, who, in the context, stressed the inadmissibility of spreading hate or hurting anybody’s feelings.

“We will not allow anybody to hurt the feelings of our people, regardless of their religion or ethnicity, nor to spread hatred and distorted ideologies among the people,” said King Abdullah.

Security and economy go hand in hand. Of that, there is little doubt.

Jordanians are aware of the situation, in the region and at home, and are willing to sacrifice much for the sake of peace. But sacrifices must be made across the board and have to be reasonable.

The Monarch, once again, has shown the path the country should follow. Government and people now have to steer carefully along.