Muslim Brotherhood unveils new economic strategy

AMMAN — The Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm, the Islamic Action Front (IAF) on Wednesday said it has prepared a detailed economic plan for Jordan that “would boost the country’s gross domestic product while limiting reliance on foreign aid”.

The blueprint, titled “Jordan Tomorrow 2020”, is the most detailed economic plan provided by the Brotherhood since the early 1990s and aims to address “the most pressing challenges” facing the country.

“All of the political, social and security challenges facing Jordan today are the direct result of poor economic policies, and the lack of true economic and political reforms,” IAF Secretary General Hamzah Mansour told The Jordan Times.

“We embarked on this strategy to be part of a solution to a problem that officials have ignored for too long,” he added.

Brotherhood leaders refused to release details of the economic plan, which was drawn up by independent economic analysts. It is expected to be released as part of an overall economic platform in the next parliamentary elections.

The economic strategy comes as the IAF embarks on a party-wide overhaul to improve its image among Jordanians and re-brand itself as a “national” rather than “Islamist” political movement.

As part of a strategy set in a general conference last week, the Brotherhood prioritised targeting youths and women, and expanding the party base in order for the IAF to become a competitive force in Jordan over the next decade. 

As part of the changes, IAF members called for a revamped version of the party’s economic strategy — which has not been amended since 2005.

Internal polls for the post of IAF secretary general are approaching, with former overall Brotherhood leader Salem Falahat, a moderate with wide appeal across the movement, tapped as frontrunner to succeed Mansour.