Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Less than 50 per cent of Jordanians believe that the government is able to shoulder its responsibilities, an opinion poll revealed on Saturday.

The poll, conducted by the University of Jordan's Centre for Strategic Studies 100 days after the formation of Prime Minister Hani Mulki's government, found that 48 per cent of the public and 51 per cent of opinion leaders believe that the government is able to handle its duties.

The centre surveyed 1,812 members of the public, as well as 700 opinion leaders, who included academics, intellectuals, media and business leaders and politicians.

Some 45 per cent of the surveyed members of the public expressed confidence in Mulki's ability to shoulder his responsibilities, compared with 56 per cent of opinion leaders.

Unemployment is the main challenge in Jordan, according to 32 per cent of the public, while 17 per cent said poverty was the key challenge and 16 per cent cited the economy in general.

Economic issues topped the concerns of opinion leaders, among whom 57 per cent said the economy was the Kingdom's main challenge, while unemployment came second with 16 per cent and only 6 per cent cited poverty.

Only 12 per cent of the public said the economic situation had improved in the last year, down from 14 per cent who were asked the same question in a June poll.

Among opinion leaders, just 9 per cent said the economy had improved, down from 11 per cent in the earlier poll.

*Jordan Times