Jordan’s 2025 budget: Between ambition and realism

The approval of Jordan’s 2025 budget presents an important moment to reflect on both the country’s fiscal trajectory and the role of its parliament in shaping that path. The debates surrounding the budget were, at times, passionate and engaged, yet they also highlighted some areas where parliamentary discourse could benefit from more consistency and a greater focus on constructive dialogue.

The government’s vision, focused on self-reliance and sustainable growth, is ambitious and forward-thinking. However, much of the parliamentary debate seemed centered around critiquing broad economic issues such as fiscal discipline, debt, and inflation, without always arriving at specific discussion points.

While it was clear that the intention behind these critiques was to ensure responsible governance, the tone of some debates appeared to reflect a desire for political positioning rather than a genuine push for policy refinement.

A noticeable aspect of the discussions was the inconsistency in some MPs’ arguments. On the one hand, there were concerns raised about the potential negative effects of deficit-reduction efforts on vulnerable populations. On the other hand, the same MPs sometimes advocated for greater fiscal restraint in other areas, such as specific spending allocations. This dynamic reflects the broader challenge of balancing short-term concerns with the long-term vision that effective policymaking requires.

Another important point is the level of technical expertise in some parliamentary debates. While MPs raised valid and important concerns, the discussions often lacked the depth needed to address complex issues such as public-sector efficiency or tax fairness.

This suggests that additional institutional support to enhance the quality of parliamentary debate could be beneficial. The establishment of a strategic research center for MPs, rumored to be undergoing significant restructuring and improvements, could offer the necessary resources to equip legislators with the tools to engage with economic policies more deeply and consistently.

Furthermore, there is an opportunity for reform in the rules governing parliamentary debates. Currently, discussions are often fragmented, with MPs addressing topics in isolation rather than engaging in a more collaborative, cross-party manner.

Revising the debate formats to encourage more comprehensive, structured exchanges could lead to more productive conversations and, ultimately, stronger policymaking. This would make the deliberations and the policy building initiative by the MPs more effective, and efficient, as His Majesty King Abdullah urged for in his recent discussion papers.

The stakes for the 2025 budget are significant. The government’s focus on investing in education, healthcare and infrastructure is essential for the country’s long-term growth.

However, the success of these investments will depend largely on their effective implementation, which has been a challenge in the past, and still remains so today. Parliament plays a crucial role here, not only in approving the budget but in ensuring that robust oversight mechanisms are in place. This requires a focus on understanding the intricacies of fiscal policy, which can be supported through improved parliamentary processes.

It is worth noting that while MPs raised important issues such as tax reform and inflation, these concerns were sometimes presented in isolation without a clear framework for balancing fiscal discipline with social equity.

For example, the  reliance on domestic revenues, which now comprise 93 per cent of the budget, was both lauded for contributing to self-reliance and critiqued for its potential to place a greater burden on lower-income households. This tension points to the need for a more nuanced understanding of the trade-offs involved in economic policy.

In conclusion, the 2025 budget presents a vital opportunity for both the government and parliament to demonstrate leadership in aligning ambition with pragmatism. Much like Dickens’ Great Expectations, where Pip learns that great aspirations must be tempered with humility and persistence, Jordan’s fiscal journey requires both bold vision and the disciplined execution necessary to realise it.

With improved institutional support, more collaborative debates, and a focus on comprehensive policy analysis, the country can move closer to achieving its goals. The path forward for Jordan will require not just bold ideas, but a commitment to thoughtful execution and collective effort, ensuring that the benefits of these investments reach the entire nation.