Jordan will face huge unrest in absence of real reforms

The prospect of a growing popular uprising looms a head of Jordan unless King Abdullah II embarks on concrete reforms in the country, a former Pentagon official tells Press TV.

“Jordan is quickly becoming increasingly susceptible to the uprising and I think the king is becoming quite concerned about it,” Michael Maloof said in a Sunday interview.

“This is something that is going to become even graver as time moves on and there seems to be demonstrations coming primarily from the cities where of course the Muslim Brotherhood has tremendous strength,” he pointed out.

The Jordanian king “is in a very precarious position right now and it’s going to remain that way until he starts instituting real reforms,” Maloof noted.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II has sworn in a new government amid protests demanding greater political reforms and measures aimed at the improvement of the Arab country’s economy.

On Saturday, the 51-year-old Jordanian leader instated an administration led by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour.

Earlier this month, the king reappointed Ensour as his prime minister without consulting the 150-member assembly.

Jordanians have been holding demonstrations since January 2011, demanding political reforms, including the election of the prime minister by popular vote and an end to corruption.

Protesters also accuse the government of failing to take action to improve the country’s struggling economy.

Since the demonstrations began King Abdullah II has sacked three prime ministers to appease the protesters.