Truck strike poses serious threat to Jordan’s government

By Laith Al-Junaidi

AMMAN, Jordan (AA) – A strike staged by truck drivers to protest soaring fuel prices and living costs is posing a serious threat to the Jordanian government.

Protesters say that their strike, which began on Dec. 5, aims to pressure the local authorities to reduce fuel prices.

The truck drivers’ strike was joined by passenger and school buses to demand a reduction of fuel prices.

On Monday, Jordanian authorities agreed to form a joint committee with the parliament to look into solutions to the strike.

There are around 21,000 trucks in Jordan, according to statistics of the Land Transport Regulatory Authority.

Jordan imports almost all its total energy supplies.

Fuel prices increased in Jordan this year, with the government attributing the hikes to the rise in global oil prices.

Jordan ranks 4th in the Arab world in terms of the high fuel prices after Lebanon, Syria and Palestine.

Last month, the Petroleum Derivatives Pricing Committee decided to hike the prices of diesel by 35 fils to become 895 fils ($1.26) per liter, up from 860 ($1.21).

The prices of 90-octane gasoline also went up by 10 fils to become 920 fils ($1.29) and 95-octane gasoline by 15 fils to 1,170 fils ($1.64).

- Inexperience

Since 2020, fuel prices in Jordan rose by 29 to 36 percent.

Observers opine that the truck drivers’ strike might cause the ousting of the Jordanian government.

Amer al-Sabaila, a political analyst, said the government of Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh "lacks experience in dealing with the people.”

“On the contrary, this government took provocative steps in an unacceptable way,” he told Anadolu Agency.

He said the fuel price hike in the wake of the coronavirus crisis and global fuel price increases “was particularly provocative.”

“This was very provocative to the citizens and the government put itself in the enemy’s shoes,” he added.

Al-Sabaila warned that the strike could develop into a “civil disobedience” in the future.

- Wake-up call

Jamal al-Shalabi, a professor of political science at the Hashemite University, said the government is unwilling to reach a solution to the strike.

“The government has powers delegated by the king to deal with public affairs,” al-Shalabi said. “However, this does not mean that the government will not be dismantled if it turns into a burden.”

Al-Shalabi rules out that the government will resign over the truck strike.

“But the king might sacrifice the government to maintain his relationship with the people, especially if the repercussions of the strike continue to expand,” he added.

Hassan Al-Dajah, a professor of strategic studies at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, believes that the strike is a natural result to the high fuel price hikes.

"This issue is a wake-up call on many issues that add more burdens on the citizens,” he said.

“If the strike continues to expand, no one will be able to stop it and will automatically affect the government’s workflow,” al-Dajah warned.

*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report