Gov’t popularity declines after 200 days in office — poll

Fuente: 
The Jordan Times
Fecha de publicación: 
05 Mayo 2015

AMMAN — The results of a poll released on Wednesday revealed a considerable decline in the percentage of Jordanians who believe their country is on the right track, both economically and politically.

The Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS) at the University of Jordan conducted a poll during October over Jordanians’ evaluation of the performance of Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour’s second Cabinet after 200 days in office.

The national sample included 1,200 individuals aged 18 and above, divided equally between men and women, who were chosen randomly from 120 locations around the Kingdom.

The opinion leaders sample was made up of 700 individuals from seven categories, 96 per cent of whom responded to the poll.

The results showed that 64 per cent of the national sample and 47 per cent of opinion leaders agreed that the country is not on the right track.

Only 29 per cent of the national sample agreed that the country was on the right track, citing Jordan’s security, stability and state of justice, while 42 per cent of opinion leaders voiced satisfaction in the government’s performance, citing its implementation of the required political reforms and wise approach in handling the current stage.

According to the survey, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 points, the respondents believe that poverty, unemployment and hikes in prices are among the major challenges facing the country.

Around 69 per cent of the national sample and 40 per cent of the opinion leaders sample believe that economic hardships are the most pressing problem facing Jordan, the CSS survey found. According to the findings, 45 per cent of the national sample expressed confidence in the government’s ability to handle the current stage, compared with 54 per cent and 60 per cent in the surveys conducted in April 2013 and October 2012 respectively during Ensour’s term.

Fifty-two per cent of the opinion leaders believe that the government is incapable of handling the current stage, compared with 51 per cent and 57 per cent in April 2013 and October 2012 respectively.

Commenting on the study’s findings, CSS Director Musa Shteiwi said the media has played a significant role in influencing peoples’ evaluation and opinion of the government, noting that Ensour has been linked primarily to increasing prices more than anything else in media outlets and social networks.

Shteiwi, a renowned sociologist, told The Jordan Times that one major reason behind the considerable decrease in the popularity of Ensour’s government is its “weak media strategy”.

Explaining how Jordanians’ increasing economic burdens have had a major impact on the government’s image, he said the premier’s popularity “has not changed that much” after fuel subsidies were lifted last November.

“But a year after that decision, coupled with new hikes in prices, it has become clear how people are now economically burdened and troubled,” he noted.

Shteiwi argued that the government has failed to maintain constant contact, not only with the people, but also with opposition powers and political parties, which has negatively affected its popularity.

What is remarkable about this poll, he said, is that it is the first time in two years that most of the satisfaction over the government’s performance has come from the opinion leaders sample.

“The reason for that is this segment’s understanding of the rationale behind the difficult economic decisions the government has taken, or possibly because they have not been that affected by them.”