Protesters call for Parliament dissolution over bread price hike

AMMAN —  Dozens on Thursday gathered outside Parliament to call for dissolving the Lower House, urging the government to reverse its decisions to increase taxes on foodstuff and bread. 

Protesters said that the government decision to increase bread price was the main trigger of their sit-in. 

The new bread prices went into effect as of February 1, with the prices set JD0.40 for one kilogramme of small pita bread, JD0.32 for large pita bread and JD0.35 for Arabic bread (Mashrouh).

With this measure the government said it will save JD50 million in subsidies that used to amount to around JD120 million annually, of which only JD45 million was directed to Jordanians as more than a third of the population who benefited from the subsidy system are non-Jordanians. 

Yaser Manaseer, a participant, called for dissolving Parliament. “We wanted to express our support to the underprivileged citizens as these taxes add more burden on people,” he said. 

For Zeyad Jibril, another protester, the Parliament did not meet the expectations of the people and had “let them down”.

“The government’s policies make people hungry. We call on His Majesty to cancel all these taxes, including on bread.  More than half of the people live under the poverty line and the rise of these prices will result in crimes, increase the percentage of corruption and many other problems,” he said. 

Tariq Abaadi, another participant, said that although he understands that the decision related to bread has some impact, he noted that the government delivers cash support for people. “The members of Parliament never opposed these decisions [tax hikes],” he told The Jordan Times.