(MENAFN - Jordan Times) Jordanians are split on whether the country is headed in the right or wrong direction, a survey released on Wednesday showed, with a majority expressing negative views of the economy.
The poll, conducted in mid-July by the International Republican Institute (IRI), found that 43 per cent of citizens believe Jordan is headed in the right direction, against 45 per cent who believe it is headed in the wrong direction, according to a statement from the IRI.
Over the course of the IRI's polling, this is only the second time in seven years that wrong direction responses have exceeded right direction, the statement said.
Regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections, 57 per cent said they planned to vote, and voters showed a clear preference for independent and tribal candidates.
Jordanians were a bit more optimistic (43 per cent) than pessimistic (37 per cent) that the newly formed Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) can ensure free and transparent elections. However, citizens were split over whether the new Elections Law was an improvement over the previous law.
Jordanians assessed current economic conditions negatively. As to how the economy will do over the next 12 months, respondents were less optimistic than a year ago, with 39 per cent saying the economy would get better, down from 57 per cent in 2011, the statement said.
A combined 56 per cent of Jordanians said they had seen no improvement or a worsening of their families' economic situation over the past year.
IRI has conducted surveys in Jordan since 2005. This poll is the ninth in a series of national studies on national priorities, governance and political reform in Jordan conducted by the IRI and the Middle East Marketing and Research Consultants, according to the IRI statement.
The poll interviewed 1,000 Jordanians, both men and women, at 100 sites randomly selected throughout the Kingdom. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 per cent with 95 per cent confidence.
