logo
Public trust in government rises to 65%, highest level since 2011

Public trust in government rises to 65%, highest level since 2011

Jordan Times04-05-2025

AMMAN — Public confidence in the government of Prime Minister Jafar Hassan has risen to 65 percent, the highest level of confidence in a Jordanian government since 2011, according to a new survey by the University of Jordan's Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS).
The poll, conducted at the end of April, reflected a steady rise in public approval since the government was formed, as confidence stood at 54 per cent when the government took office, rose to 51 per cent at the 100-day mark and has now reached 65 per cent after 200 days in office.
Among opinion leaders, 64 per cent said the government was successfully managing its responsibilities - slightly lower than the 70 per cent at the 100-day mark, but still higher than the 52 per cent at its formation.
At a press conference announcing the results, the CSS noted that Hassan's government has achieved unprecedented levels of public trust compared to previous governments, with both the Prime Minister and his cabinet receiving improved ratings.
Confidence in Hassan personally has also rose, with 71 per cent of the public saying he is capable of leading the government, compared to 55 per cent at 100 days and 57 per cent at inauguration. Among opinion leaders, this figure reached 75 per cent.
The performance of the ministerial team showed similar gains, with 60 per cent of respondents now believing that the ministers are competent, up from 47 per cent at the 100-day mark. Optimism about the direction of the cabinet reached 58 per cent among the general public and 50 per cent among opinion leaders.
Public perceptions of the Kingdom's direction have also improved, with 74 per cent now believing that Jordan is on the right track - up from 47 per cent at the 100-day mark.
The Prime Minister's local visits appear to have had a positive impact on citizens. Two thirds of respondents expressed satisfaction with these visits, while 40 per cent reported tangible benefits in their local area as a result.
Engagement with government activities is also on the rise. More than half of respondents, some 52 per cent, said they follow government action, while an overwhelming 94 per cent of opinion leaders reported doing the same.
Belief in the government's commitment to service delivery has also increased, with the results showing that 36 per cent of the public said they "strongly agree" and 39 per cent "somewhat agree" that the government is doing its best - up from 17 per cent and 45 per cent respectively in the previous survey.
Freedom of expression indicators also improved slightly, with 55 per cent of Jordanians now saying they can criticise the government without fear, up from 51 per cent.
Despite the generally positive mood, a majority of both the public (65 per cent) and opinion leaders (56 per cent) oppose a cabinet reshuffle at this time.
Meanwhile, confidence in Jordan's core institutions remains high. The Jordanian Armed Forces, the General Intelligence Directorate and the Civil Defence each received approval ratings of 99 per cent, while Public Security scored 89 per cent.
The nationally representative survey included 1,225 adults and 356 opinion leaders from seven professional and political sectors. It was conducted between 17 and 27 April with a margin of error of ±3 per cent and a confidence level of 94 per cent.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

King watches Jordan's qualifier game against Oman during London visit
King watches Jordan's qualifier game against Oman during London visit

Roya News

time21 hours ago

  • Roya News

King watches Jordan's qualifier game against Oman during London visit

His Majesty King Abdullah II followed the national football team's World Cup qualifier match against Oman on Tuesday evening, tuning in from the Jordanian embassy in London during his working visit to Europe. Photos from the embassy showed the King watching the game with visible enthusiasm as the national team fought to secure a place in the next round of qualifiers. His presence reflected the significance of the match not only as a sporting event but as a moment of national pride. King Abdullah's ongoing European tour includes meetings with key leaders aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and advancing Jordan's regional diplomacy, particularly amid ongoing developments in the Middle East.

Farewell to the Chinese Ambassador and Prospects for Jordanian-Chinese Partnership - Jordan News
Farewell to the Chinese Ambassador and Prospects for Jordanian-Chinese Partnership - Jordan News

Jordan News

time2 days ago

  • Jordan News

Farewell to the Chinese Ambassador and Prospects for Jordanian-Chinese Partnership - Jordan News

Before Ambassador Chen Chuandong finished his speech in the celebration hall in central Amman, his tears preceded his words, transforming the farewell stage into a humane space pulsating with intimacy. The man spent four and a half years in the Kingdom, during which he led a path of cooperation that took the form of a growing strategic partnership, and the Chinese and Arab civilizations embodied a model of understanding based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. The following article traces the most important milestones of this period, examining the significance of the farewell moment and the prospects it opens for the next decade. اضافة اعلان First: The Farewell Scene... When Emotion Speaks in Diplomatic Tones At the end of the ceremony, the ambassador's voice trembled as he recalled the names of the Jordanian places that had sheltered him, from the alleys of Jabal Luweibdeh to the balconies of Jerash, suspended in the memory of history. The scene seemed exceptional in a world where emotions are usually controlled by the rhythm of protocol. However, the man chose to express his gratitude with Eastern frankness, not devoid of the warmth of Beijing. Those tears, as one of the attendees commented, "were not shed on the airport asphalt, but on the soil of a second homeland that its owner loved until the last day of his mission." This emotional dimension does not detract from the professional nature of the outcome; it merely confirms that relations between peoples, when formulated sincerely, transcend the language of technical interests to touch the hearts of individuals. Second: Ten Years of Strategic Partnership... A Busy Achievements Calendar A full decade ago, in 2015, Amman and Beijing announced the elevation of their relations to a strategic partnership. Since then, and particularly during Ambassador Chen's tenure, three key themes have been crystallized: Economy and Trade: The volume of trade increased from $360 million in 2020 to $537 million in 2024, with an annual growth rate of nearly 21%. These figures may seem modest compared to larger markets, but they reflect a new structure in the trade basket, with fertilizers, solar panels, and textiles emerging as key components. Most importantly, Chinese companies now own the largest stake in the Arab Potash Company, increasing fertilizer production and contributing to Chinese food security, while providing revenues and job opportunities to the Jordanian treasury. Energy and Green Transformation: Chinese institutions have invested in wind farms in the Tafilah region and photovoltaic projects in several areas, helping Jordan double the contribution of renewable energy to its electricity mix. This cooperation aligns with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to reduce emissions and ensure security of supply. Belt and Road Initiative: Signing a Memorandum of Understanding and opening the door to the establishment of logistics corridors linking Aqaba to Chinese Red Sea ports, in addition to projects to digitize ports and railways. This is how the Chinese philosophy is translated: seamless trade intersects with Jordan's ambition to become a regional hub linking Asia, Europe, and Africa. Third: Culture and Education... The Bridge That Politics Cannot Destroy The strength of relations between countries is not measured by trade balance indicators alone, but rather by the depth of cultural exchange and human interaction they reflect. The Jerash Festival has become a model for this cultural convergence, hosting Chinese troupes for successive years, presenting performances of traditional music and contemporary dance. The closing evenings of these troupes have become among the most anticipated events in the historic amphitheaters. On the other hand, the "Tea for Harmony" event has transformed from a simple initiative to bring Jordanian and Chinese cultures together in a garden at the University of Jordan, into a well-established annual event that attracts hundreds of families. Visitors learn about Chinese tea-making rituals and their ancient history, while Jordanian participants enjoy maqluba and mansaf dishes, a scene that embodies the true meaning of cultural exchange and the rich diversity between peoples. Language education: Approximately 600 Jordanian students are learning Chinese at Confucius Institutes, while 500 Chinese students are immersed in the beauty of the Arabic language at Jordanian universities. These generations are the true fuel for the sustainability of the relationship. Training programs: Last year alone, 600 Jordanians took short courses in Beijing, Shenzhen, and Suzhou, covering artificial intelligence, urban policy, and heritage management. They return with new ideas and personal friendships. Fourth: Political Harmony and Common Positions At the diplomatic level, observers can almost detect a remarkable harmony between Amman and Beijing on key issues. The Palestinian issue—which tops Jordan's foreign policy agenda—enjoys unwavering Chinese support for a two-state solution. The two countries translated this discourse by sending humanitarian aid to Gaza in late 2023, carried out by a joint airlift. Jordan, for its part, affirms at every forum its commitment to the "One China" principle as a pillar of international stability. Fifth: The Compass of Domestic Development... What Does Jordan Mean to Beijing? Chinese experts describe Jordan as a "laboratory of stability" in a turbulent region. The Kingdom, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, has weathered the storms of the "Arab Spring" without institutional collapse and has gradually modernized its political system. From Beijing's perspective, this promising climate of sustainability is an ideal environment for long-term investments, free from the sovereign risks threatening mega-projects in some neighboring countries. The Chinese side also benefits from Jordan's geopolitical location; the Kingdom is a transit gateway to the markets of Iraq and Syria, and linking the port of Aqaba to the Belt and Road Initiative will provide China with an alternative artery to the Suez Canal in emergencies. Sixth: Challenges and Opportunities in the Next Five Years Diversifying Partnerships: Despite China's momentum, Jordan is keen not to limit its economic options to a single entity. The balance between East and West will remain the motto of the next phase, requiring Beijing to offer more competitive offers while respecting the unique characteristics of the Jordanian market. Deepening Local Manufacturing: The current model focuses on importing Chinese components and assembling them in Jordan. Jordanian decision-makers aspire to transfer deeper technologies, enabling the establishment of real industries that attract Jordanian engineers. Soft diplomacy and deepening success narratives: Jordanian citizens see the Chinese presence as an added value to their daily lives, not just numbers in the news. Here, cultural grant programs and popular media play a pivotal role. Seventh: Chen's Tears... A Farewell Message or a Promise of a Reunion? When the ambassador was asked after his speech about the reason for his tears, he responded with a brief statement: "I loved Jordan more than I expected." Between the lines lies the understanding that international relations are not built solely on agreements signed behind closed doors; rather, they are built on simple human rhythms: a friend who becomes familiar with a street, masters a new language, says "good morning" in the Ammani dialect, and the neighbors respond with "你好" at the door. This intimacy may seem like a marginal detail on the Foreign Ministry's agenda, but it is a spirit capable of moving the wheels of the economy, culture, and politics in directions that are difficult to measure with numbers. And then: Where do Where do we go from here? As Jordan and China mark the tenth anniversary of their strategic partnership, they close a chapter enriched by Ambassador Chen Chuandong's efforts and open a new one poised to tackle shared challenges—post-pandemic recovery, energy security, and climate change. This is a moment for both nations to co-create a development model that fuses innovation with cultural diversity and adapts technology to Jordan's unique context, all while benefiting from China's openness and experience. Though Ambassador Chen is preparing to leave Amman, the legacy he leaves behind—from solar panels glinting in the desert sun to the harmonies of "Zhong Rui" echoing through the Jerash Amphitheater—will endure. It serves as lasting proof that when diplomacy is guided by empathy and vision, it writes more than agreements; it writes relationships. In a world where headlines fade fast, perhaps the most enduring mark of an ambassador is this simple line etched into the history of two nations: 'A friendship was born here.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store