Jordanians divided over recent constitutional amendments — CSS poll

Main findings
Current Situation

One-third of Jordanians think that the Kingdom is on the right track and 62 per cent think otherwise, a survey shows.
The poll –which was conducted by the University of Jordan’s Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS) — shows that unemployment, poor economic conditions and increasing poverty are the main concerns for Jordanians, followed by price hikes and the health conditions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Unstable regional circumstances and external pressures are Jordan’s top political problems, the survey shows, according to a CSS statement.
Jordanians believe that political challenges facing the Kingdom include: weak government performance, obscurity in decision-making, and poor parliament performance.
The Jordanian Constitution and Constitutional Amendments:
Almost 20 per cent of Jordanians said that they have looked at the Constitution or some of its items, while 80 per cent have never seen the Constitution.
Only 22 per cent of those surveyed knew about the constitutional amendments recommended by the Royal Committee to Modernise the Political System and approved by the Lower House of Parliament, while 78% were not aware of such amendments.
Also, 51 per cent of those who knew about the amendments (of the 22 per cent) had little knowledge of the constitutional items, 31 per cent had medium knowledge and 15 per cent knew nothing about these items, but had heard about them.
Almost 36 per cent of Jordanians who checked on the constitutional amendments are satisfied with them, and 33 per cent believe that they will lead to tangible progress in the Kingdom’s political life.
Nearly 67 per cent of those surveyed think that the amendments will not play a significant role in developing the political life in Jordan.

Adding the female noun for ‘Jordanian citizen’ to the second chapter of the Jordanian constitution is the most prominent amendment that Jordanians have heard/knew about (37%), followed by lowering the candidacy age for parliament membership to 25 years old (14%), and amendments related to women empowerment (6%).

Additionally, 14 per cent of Jordanians think that amendments related to youth empowerment are the best amendments, followed by the amendments related to women empowerment with 13 per cent, the Lower House amendments with 6 per cent, and the Cabinet amendments with 4 per cent.

One quarter of Jordanians (25%) believe that the main reason for adding the female noun of ‘Jordanian citizen’ to the second chapter of the constitution is to achieve gender equality, (12%) believe it is to attain a sense of gender equality in the Jordanian constitution, and (12%) think there is no clear reason for this amendment.
The majority of Jordanians support the constitutional amendments that have been approved by the House of Representatives. Amendments related to protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, and women and youth empowerment received the highest support rates. Whereas lowering the candidacy age for parliament membership to 25 years old (instead of 30), allowing the Prime Minister and ministers (or their vices) to address the House of Representatives and the Senate, and assigning the Independent Election Commission to consider requests for the establishment of political parties and follow up on their affairs in accordance with the provisions of the law received the lowest support rates.