Abdullah Ensour says Jordan will become 'economically bankrupt' if electricity prices are not raised Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour has announced that the government will raise electricity prices after the upcoming parliamentary elections. Ensour claimed in an interview with a radio station that “the State will be economically bankrupt if we don’t.”
He stressed that the government will continue to fight corruption, citing the steps and procedures they are taking to transform practises. The Prime Minister added, “We have to convince citizens that this government is sparing no effort in achieving justice.”
He gave multiple warnings, ahead of removing subsidies on fuel and some commodities, that the Jordanian Dinar would inevitably collapse in the absence of subsidies if the government does not raise prices. Ensour also said that it is wise to keep the Hashemite regime in place as “the only alternative would be revolution and starting from scratch.”
On the subject of the parliamentary elections, Ensour said that King Abdullah II has emphasised the elections will be transparent, fair and credible. The Prime Minister explained that so far, eight candidates have been referred by the Independent Election Commission to the judicial system for electoral offences. He concluded: “there is a difference between money paid by the candidate to spend on legitimate electoral propaganda and the money paid for purchasing votes and influencing the will of the voters. We cannot accept this.”