Jordan’s king told government ministers on Tuesday to avoid imposing unfair taxes, state news agency Petra reported.
King Abdullah’s comments come the day after the resignation of Prime Minister Hani Mulki in the wake of a week of protests over a series of financial reforms that had received the backing of the IMF.
King Abdullah said the new government should “avoid continuing to impose unfair consumer taxes that do not achieve justice and balance between the income of the poor and the rich.”
Meanwhile, he called for a full review of the country’s tax system and launch a dialogue over a planned income tax law, which has sparked the country’s biggest protests in years.
The king appointed Omar al-Razzaz to form a new government, according to a palace statement, after Hani Mulki resigned as prime minister in a bid to defuse public anger over price hikes.
“We entrust you with the formation of a new government that will discharge the great national responsibilities in this delicate circumstance and complete the process of reform, construction and development,” the king said.
He called for the government to launch a dialogue with the National Assembly and the political parties, unions and various civil society institutions to complete the draft of an income tax law that details economic and social legislation.
“The pressures that Jordan faces should be an incentive to upgrade the quality of services, not an excuse for their decline,” the king said.
Scores of people have been arrested in the protests so far, which are ongoing.
