Arab Winter? More Power Consolidated in Hands of Jordanian Monarch

Five Years after the ‘Arab Spring’ uprisings, Jordan seems headed in the opposite direction. The country’s parliament has passed several constitutional amendments giving King Abdullah more powers, including the right to appoint the head of a top court and members of the senate. The King was also granted the power to appoint his own regent and crown prince. State-owned news agency Petra said the amendments were passed with 123 votes in…