For the first time since an unprecedented crisis in this century-old monarchy erupted this weekend, King Abdullah II addressed the Jordanians on Wednesday, April 7. He claimed the crisis that rocked the monarchy in recent days, in which his half-brother Prince Hamza was accused of being involved, was resolved.
“I assure you that sedition has been nipped in the bud”, he said in a message read on his behalf by a public television presenter. “The challenge of the last few days has not been the most dangerous for the stability of the country, but it has been the most painful for me, because the parties involved in this sedition were from our home and from outside”, he said, without giving more details.
“Evil plan” to destabilize the throne
He also announced that Prince Hamza was at home with his family. “Hamza is today with his family in his palace, under my protection. He is engaged in front of the family [hachémite] to follow the path of his parents and grandparents, to be faithful to their message and to place the interests of Jordan, its Constitution and its laws above all other considerations ”, he added.
The king’s half-brother was accused by the authorities of having been involved in a “Evil plan” aimed at destabilizing the throne. “I cannot describe what I felt as shock, pain and anger as a brother and guardian of the Hashemite family and as a leader of these dear people”, added Abdallah II.
Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Ayman Safadi said on Sunday that the inquiries had “Allowed to monitor interventions and contacts with foreign parties aimed at destabilizing the security of Jordan”, without specifying nationality.
Twenty people are behind bars, including Bassem Awadallah, a former head of the royal office hated by a large part of the population, and Cherif Hassan ben Zaid, who was once the king’s special envoy to Saudi Arabia. The monarch said the results of the investigation would be “Treated transparently”.
International support
The king has received support from leaders around the world in recent days. US President Joe Biden called him on Wednesday. “President Joe Biden spoke today to King Abdullah II of Jordan to express the strong American support for Jordan and underline the importance of Abdullah II’s leadership for the United States and the region”, the White House said in a statement.
And he met Wednesday in Amman, the Jordanian capital, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who assured on Twitter the will of the European Union to continue their “Long-term partnership and contribute to prosperity and stability”.
The king’s statement came as the alleged plot disappeared from the local press altogether, following a ban on publishing information about the investigation.