Jordanian PM Mulki Submits Resignation Amid Ongoing Protests

AMMAN- Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Mulki has submitted the resignation of his government to King Abdullah II of Jordan, a Royal Court statement said on Monday.

The resignation came amid ongoing protests across the country.

Mulki submitted the resignation during the meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah II, Sputnik reported, noting that the decision was made in order to ease tensions caused by the country’s economic policies.

 Following the resignation, the king asked Omar al-Razzaz, education minister in the outgoing government, to form a new government.

The government’s resignation follows nationwide protests against the income tax draft law, which seeks to increase the number of income tax payers from 5 per cent to 10 per cent, Jordan Times said.

Massive protests have been engulfing the Jordanian capital and other cities since May 30, after the government proposed a set of economic reforms aimed at raising taxes and reducing spending in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) requirements.

The legislative proposal is yet to be approved by the country’s parliament. Jordan’s prime minister and trade union representatives tried to negotiate a compromise on taxes on May 2, but the efforts ultimately failed and the protests continued.

H.M