Jordan's King Abdullah on Friday (June 1st) ordered the government to freeze new price hikes on fuel and electricity after protests across the country, AFP reported.
Late Thursday and early Friday, hundreds of Jordanians demonstrated in Amman and other cities, blocking roads with cars and blazing tires.
That came after the government decreed rises of up to 5.5% on fuels and a 19% hike in electricity prices, as well as laying out plans for a new income tax.
But early Friday, the king ordered the government to shelve hikes set to take effect that day, the Jordanian news agency, Petra, reported.
Prices have steadily risen in Jordan in recent years as the government pushes reforms demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Jordan has a public debt of some $35 billion, equivalent to 90% of its gross domestic product (GDP). In 2016, it secured a $723 million three-year credit line from the IMF to support economic and financial reforms.
It was told by the IMF that it must drop subsidies and raise taxes to meet conditions for future loans.
