jordan pulse -

– In a candid interview with Rum News Agency and Al-Shahed Media Group, Senate member and former MP Sheikh Mohammad Al-Azaydeh shared insights on Jordan’s political and economic landscape, government decisions, and his departure from the Muslim Brotherhood.

Azaydeh described the state budget as austere, regardless of how it is presented. While he expects a cabinet reshuffle soon due to what he sees as an overburdened government, he noted that Prime Minister Hassan recently assured him there would be no changes—calling it “political talk.”

He criticized the appointment of an investment advisor with a JD 4,000 salary amid financial constraints, deeming it an unjustified and unpatriotic decision that misuses public funds. He urged Parliament to hold the government accountable.

On regional affairs, Azaydeh expressed optimism about Syria’s new leadership, predicting it will curb—but not eliminate—drug smuggling into Jordan.

Discussing his past with the Muslim Brotherhood, he denied leaving over religious differences but cited ideological disputes with figures like Abdullah Akaileh and Bassam Al-Amoush. He recalled how the Brotherhood’s 1997 election boycott contradicted King Hussein’s call for national participation, prompting him to side with the monarchy.

Azaydeh also revealed that during his early years with the Brotherhood, he faced marginalization, with members even refusing to greet him. Despite repeated invitations to return, he declined, refusing to grant them what he called a “prize.”

Criticizing a former prime minister, Azaydeh accused him of elitism and detachment from public concerns, saying: “You had ample time in office, yet you chose isolation over listening to the people.”