AMMAN — A public opinion poll conducted by the Centre for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan found that more than half of Jordanians believe the Kingdom is moving in a positive direction, 18 months after the formation of Prime Minister Jafar Hassan’s government.

 

The survey showed that 54 per cent of the national sample and 53 per cent of opinion leaders said conditions are heading in the right direction, compared with 37 per cent and 43 per cent respectively who said they are moving in the wrong direction.

 

Among respondents who viewed the situation positively, 68 per cent attributed this to security and stability, while 8 per cent cited general improvements in living conditions, according to the public service broadcaster Al Mamlaka.

 

The poll is part of a series of periodic surveys tracking public sentiment towards government performance. It follows previous rounds conducted at the formation of the government in September 2024, after 100 days, 200 days, and one year in office.

 

The opinion leaders’ sample included 415 respondents from seven categories, including senior state officials, political and union leaders, academics, business figures, journalists, writers, and artists, with a response rate of 91.5 per cent.

 

The survey assessed public views on government performance, economic conditions, trust in institutions, and perceptions of key policy issues, including school transport initiatives, municipal elections, social security amendments, and regional developments.

 

The findings indicate a rise in confidence in government performance compared with earlier surveys. Sixty-nine per cent of opinion leaders and 62 per cent of the national sample said the government is capable of shouldering its responsibilities, up from 52 oer cent and 54 per cent at the time of formation.

 

Confidence in the prime minister’s ability to manage responsibilities also increased, reaching 75 per cent among opinion leaders and 64 per cent among the national sample, compared with 55 per cent and 57 per cent previously.

 

Support for the prime minister’s field visits stood at 83 per cent among the national sample. Meanwhile, 60 per cent of opinion leaders and 56 per cent of citizens said the ministerial team is capable of carrying out its duties, also marking an increase from earlier results.

 

Overall trust in the government stood at 67 per cent among opinion leaders and 66 per cent among the national sample, while 90 per cent of opinion leaders and 58 per cent of citizens said they follow government performance closely.

 

Around 70 per cent of respondents said the government is doing what it can to provide services, while more than half said it listens to citizens’ feedback.

 

The poll also showed an improvement in perceptions of freedom of expression, with 58 per cent saying citizens can criticise the government without fear, compared with 50 per cent in a previous survey.

 

Confidence in the government’s ability to manage regional affairs rose to 63 per cent, up from 52 per cent a year earlier.

 

Security agencies retained "exceptionally high" trust levels at 99 per cent. Trust stood at 86 per cent for the judiciary, 76 per cent for university professors, and 64 per cent for the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission. In contrast, trust in the House of Representatives stood at 39 per cent, and political parties at 29 per cent.

 

On the economic front, 10 per cent of respondents said their financial situation had improved over the past year, while 38 per cent said it remained unchanged. Looking ahead, 33 per cent expect improvement over the next year, compared with 31 per cent who expect a decline.

 

On political reforms, 54 per cent of the national sample supported appointing mayors rather than electing them, while opinion leaders showed greater opposition to the proposal.

 

Fifty-five per cent of respondents supported maintaining governorate councils.

 

Intent to participate in upcoming municipal elections stood at 39.8 per cent, while 35.7 per cent said they would not vote.

 

Eighty-three per cent of respondents expressed satisfaction with Jordan’s position on the Israeli–American–Iranian war, while 69.8 per cent cited rising living costs and declining tourism as key economic consequences.

 

More than 63 per cent expressed satisfaction with government measures to mitigate the impact of the crisis, while over 90% said they trust the government’s efforts to maintain internal security and stability.

 

Among opinion leaders, 72.5 per cent described Jordan’s regional diplomatic role as “very important”, while 86.5 per cent said King Abdullah’s Gulf visits significantly strengthened bilateral relations. Additionally, 60.7 per cent expressed "strong confidence" in Jordan’s ability to manage regional challenges.