Jordanian public split over cabinet performance

A public opinion poll released by the Centre for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan has revealed that 50 percent of repondents believe things are "on the right track". The study reflects a split in Jordanian public opinion of the nationa's new cabinet, currently led by prime minister Fayez al-Tarawneh after Awn al-Khasawneh's recent resignation from the post. Only 44 percent of opinion leaders in a separate survery agreed that the aid-dependent country was doing well. The remaining, 56 percent are the highest proportion in eight months to believe otherwise. The provinces of Mafraq and Aqaba scored the highest approval ratings with 58 percent each. The governorates of Jerash, Madaba and Irbid presented the lowest approval rating of the government in the country - scoring 46 percent, 47 percent and 48 percent respectively. The report said that 75 percent of public respondents and 62 of the opinion leaders' sample thought Jordan's biggest problems were economy-based.   However, 56 percent of repondents in both sample surveys thought Tarawneh was capable of handling the nation's problems. Fifty-two percent of the nationwide poll said that the government was able to shoulder its responsibilities, while only 49 percent of opinion leaders sample thought the same.