Jordan parliament to vote amnesty, thousands will be free Critics say just a way to win popularity during economic crisis

(ANSAmed) - AMMAN, JANUARY 20 - Jordan parliament is scheduled to deliberate today on a controversial general pardon law which will result in the release of thousands of convicts. A move that critics see as an attempt to boost its popularity and absorb criticism, months after endorsing an IMF guided income tax law that triggered protests across the kingdom.



The parliament promised to widen the pool of amnesty to include financial fraud, drugs, attack on public servants as well as traffic and other forms of financial fines. A parliament source told ANSA that the amnesty is expected to be one of the widest in history of the kingdom. It could include up to 10,000 convicts.



Observers say the amnesty is seen as a perfect opportunity by the parliament to improve its standing after seeing its popularity nose dive in light of passing a series of economic decisions that lead to significant rise in cost of living.



Th head of the Legal committee at the parliament, Abdul Munim Awadat said the parliament has "widened the amnesty to increase number of cases by at least one third." The amnesty decision was taken by king Abdullah late last year in what the royal court said was "an attempt to ease living conditions in the kingdom." Protests have spread across the kingdom last year demanding serious action against widespread corruption among elites and the ruling institution, as demonstrators accused successive governments of failing to tackle the core reason for the kingdom's economic difficulties.



Last year, the parliament rubber stamped income tax law that seeks to increase revenues of the government to pay debts to the World Bank, IMF, despite strong criticism due to difficult economic conditions. The income tax law followed an earlier decision to lift subsidies on basic food items, impose taxes on fuel and widen taxation regime on major commodities and services. Unemployment and poverty are increasing while foreign investment has been decreasing, with dozens of investors fleeing the country to Egypt, Turkey and other destinations in search for stable environment, according to economists.



The government and local politicians have been blaming the Syrian crisis for much of the economic difficulties. (ANSAmed)