Prince Hamza, Jordanians' favorite prince
Prince Hamza, here in 2012 is a popular prince in Jordan.
KHALIL MAZRAAWI AFP / Archivos
Text by: Angélique Férat
6 mins
The crisis is officially over.
On Monday evening, Prince Hamza signed a letter expressing his loyalty to King Abdullah and the Crown Prince, young Hussein.
The family has closed ranks.
The attempted coup appears more and more to be exaggerated.
On Sunday April 4, Prince Hamza was placed under surveillance and accused of fomenting sedition with a foreign power.
The king's half-brother comes out of this crisis more popular than ever.
He appeared as a victim and not as a danger to the stability of the country.
Publicity
Read more
Almost unknown internationally, Prince Hamza is a popular prince in Jordan.
The worthy portrait of his father, we hear regularly.
He would have exactly the same voice, the same intonations as King Hussein.
Hamza Bin Hussein is the son of Queen Noor and King Hussein and he is just 41 years old.
The late monarch had four wives including three children with his last companion.
Hamza received the classical education of a Jordanian prince.
He attended elementary school in Jordan, then entered a British school to finish with the military school of Sandhurst in Great Britain.
Upon his return, he joined the army as an officer.
In 2006, he retired from the army with the rank of lieutenant-general.
Without any political function, he holds several honorary positions such as the honorary presidency of the National Basketball Union or the presidency of the Advisory Commission on the energy sector.
A neat and nurtured likeness
But it is not this journey that makes him a popular prince.
His resemblance to the late King Hussein works in his favor.
King Hussein remains the guardian figure of the Jordanians.
Take a picture of King Hussein at the same age and you will be hard pressed to tell them apart.
Hama plays it, he sports the same small mustache.
An attribute obsolete nowadays, but so reminiscent of King Hussein.
He has the same sinewy, slender figure.
This physical resemblance largely explains the capital sympathy enjoyed by the prince with the Jordanians.
While he takes care of his physical resemblance, Hamza also behaves like his father's worthy heir.
In particular, he takes care of his relations with the Jordanian tribes.
A pillar of the Hashemite monarchy, they appreciate this young prince who regularly goes to weddings, funerals or other meetings across the kingdom.
These are the places where we talk and where reputations are made and undone.
It is no coincidence that during the Arab Spring, at the height of the discontent against King Abdullah's regime, the young prince was often named as a potential better king.
The tribes say they feel despised by King Abdullah who has never hidden wanting to reign other than his father.
Would there be tensions between the two half-brothers?
Hamza was named crown prince by his father before his death in 1999. It was then understood that he would succeed his brother on the Jordanian throne.
But once his power was consolidated, King Abdullah gave the title of crown prince to his son in 2004. Did the affair have left traces between them?
"
Without doubt
, estimates a Jordanian analyst,
but not to the point of fomenting a blow
".
Hamza seems especially to have listened to the growing dissatisfaction in Jordan in the face of a deleterious economic situation.
He denied in the video sent to the BBC any involvement with any foreign power or any desire to harm King Abdullah.
Without a precise political role and without a function other than honorary, what danger could this young prince represent?
Over the past three years, he has appeared to many to be more apt to be a crown prince than the still young and experienced son of King Hussein.
Journalist Daoud Koutab may see this as the source of current tensions.
►
Also to listen: Suspicion of conspiracy in Jordan: "This is the first time that there is a show of force"
Strong popular support
But the prince's coming to heel turned to his advantage.
Looking tired, but calm and composed, Hamza explained in Arabic and English that he was forbidden to leave his home or communicate with the outside.
He assured that he had nothing to do with any conspiracy.
He admitted to having been present at meetings where the regime has been criticized, but he did not utter slamming words like accusations: "
I am not the one responsible for incompetence, corruption and degradation." institutions of the past 15 years
”.
The prince said he was sad to see that now the slightest criticism can lead to an arrest.
The opposition, but also the Jordanian middle class express the same grievances.
During the Arab Spring, accusations of corruption took thousands of Jordanians to the streets.
Journalist Daoud Koutab notes that the two videos shot by the prince made him extremely popular.
Social networks vibrated with messages of support.
“
He was more believable with his calm tone than those who sought to demonize him.
It is certain that popular support accelerated the peaceful resolution of tensions under the leadership of the uncle of the king and the prince, Prince Hassan.
For this specialist in Jordanian politics, this story will leave traces, even if it relativizes.
“
Support for the king is still strong, he is popular, but the regime must understand that it must involve the Jordanians in the politics of the country
.
"
14 to 16 people have been arrested, no formal charges have yet been made.
►
To read also: Suspicion of a conspiracy in Jordan: "It is an event which will leave traces"
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Jordan
our selection
Abdullah II