Ammon News - By Jessica Watkins

AMMONNEWS - An extensive national survey by the Center for Strategic Studies (CSS) at the University of Jordan has revealed considerable variations in opinion over political priorities and problems in the kingdom.

In a press conference Tuesday morning CSS Director Dr Musa Shteiwi delivered the findings of the opinion poll measuring approval ratings on Marouf Bakhit’s government after 200 days. The poll, conducted between 22nd and 28th August across the country, was the third one run by the CSS, the other two having been run at the beginning of Bakhit’s administration and after 100 days. As in previous polls, it was divided into two separate groups: 700 opinion makers including party leaders, heads of professional unions, businessmen and journalists, and 1840 men and women (in equal numbers) randomly selected from across the country.

The survey canvassed opinions on the performance of the government, ministers and Prime Minister, people’s most pressing political concerns and how improvements might be made. A considerable majority in both categories ( 73% of opinion makers and 67% of the national sample) believed that matters were going in the right direction.

Age and geographical differences were noted. For instance, whilst 72% of of respondents aged 55+ believed matters were going in the right direction, only 62 of 35-44 year olds thought so. Similarly, whilst the provinces of Madaba, Mafraq and Ajlun saw the highest ratings of those who agreed that matters were going in the right direction, Karak, Tafila and Maan saw the lowest, with Tafila at just 43%.

However perhaps the biggest disparity in the findings related to assessments of political problems between the two groups polled. Whilst 43% of opinion makers believed the biggest political problems were connected to the political reform program, only 7% of the national sample thought so. Indeed 28% of the national sample thought there were no political problems, whilst 30% did not know or refused to reply. This was also reflected in responses regarding what improvements should be made to rectify existing problems. Whilst 33% of the national sample indicated that improved living conditions was the most pressing issue, only 8% of opinion makers agreed, whereas 40% of them thought that political reform was the top priority.

Differences were also apparent between changing views of the two groups with regard to their assessment of whether the Prime Minister was bearing his responsibilities. Within the national sample, after 200 days 58% of respondants believed that he was, the same percentage as at the time of the formation of Bakhit’s government but a 2% from the 100 day mark; whilst amongst opinon makers the % had risen since the 100 day mark from 57% to 61% but dropped overall by 2% since the formation of the government.

The two groups were broadly in agreement with regard to a number of areas in which the present government had succeeded or failed. Both groups, for example, agreed the government had been successful in supporting of the military and the public security department, and that it had been unsuccessful in supporting the poorest groups in society. There were, however, significant differences of opinion with regard to its success in establishing the rule of law, working on the new electoral law, strengthening the role of civil society, and combating corruption