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Ammon News - Prime Minister Bishr Khasawneh on Wednesday said that the government will spare no effort to support newspapers "as much as the state's General Budget Law allows", to alleviate the ongoing financial crisis of the country's papers.

During a Lower House session, the premier pointed to the Al-Rai and Ad-Dustour, both privately-owned newspapers, underscoring that the government will offer its utmost support within the expenditure limit of the General Budget Law.


Among the measures taken to address the crisis, the government covered the delayed salaries of the two newspapers' employees under the Estidama program, which supports entities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to disbursing financial incentives to journalists, the premier indicated.


Moreover, Khasawneh assured that the government will continue its support by allowing a grace period to pay back interests and fines for government owed subscriptions.

He highlighted the key and important role played by Al-Rai and Ad-Dustour throughout the "march" of the Jordanian state, by defending and protecting Jordan's causes during crucial times, underscoring the government's interest in their recovery.

However, the Prime Minister attributed the crisis to cumulative and unsuccessful investment decisions taken by the administrations of the two newspapers at some point, which negatively affected their financial performance.