Jordan's king declares reforms

Jordan's King Abdullah II has announced major political and economic reforms.He calls for a parliamentary government to be implemented"The Jordan of the future" includes democracy, justice and tolerance, he saysHis nationally televised address comes after six months of protests in the country

(CNN) -- Jordan's King Abdullah II announced sweeping reforms in a nationally televised address Sunday, promising to establish a parliamentary majority government -- a key demand of protesters calling for changes to the regime.

"Today, and on this occasion, we announce our reform vision for the Jordan of the future, in which democracy and popular participation take root as a consistent approach for the sake of building the Jordanian state, in which promoting justice is a purpose, tolerance is a mission and respect for human rights is the goal," Abdullah said.

As part of the announced reforms, Abdullah emphasized that the new law should "guarantee the fairness and transparency of the electoral process through a mechanism that will lead to a parliament with active political party representation; one that allows the formation of governments based on parliamentary majority and political party manifestos in the future."

The king also announced economic reforms, including changes to the country's tax system in order to "raise the level of competitiveness, enhance the atmosphere for investment, secure work opportunities for youth and maintain the state's active, observatory role in an open market economy."

It was not clear when the reforms would be implemented.

The address comes six months after protests broke out in the country. Most of them, unlike demonstrators in Arab countries that have seen uprisings, have not been seeking regime change but changes to the regime.

In February, Abdullah fired his prime minister and cabinet and instituted a number of economic measures and promises of political reform in an effort to appease those demands. But the protesters' list of demands grew longer as many Jordanians felt emboldened by the popular uprisings in the region.

Jordan's economy has been hit hard by the global downturn and rising commodity prices, and youth unemployment is high. Officials close to the palace have told CNN that Abdullah is trying to turn a regional upheaval into an opportunity for reform.

U.S. tycoon helps jobless in Mideast

In his speech Sunday, Abdullah sought to paint Jordanians as one family, "and as head of the family, I favor no one individual or group ... or differentiate between them," he said.

"I am one of you, and I am all for you," he said.

CNN

Ecuador government declares referendum victory

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador's vice president declared victory after an exit poll Saturday indicated voters roundly approved 10 ballot questions proposed by leftist President Rafael Correa that critics say will strengthen his grip on power, inhibit press freedom and lessen the judiciary's independence.

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa reacts after listening favorable reports about a referendum he proposed Saturday.

The exit poll by SP Investigacion y Estudios, which regularly does work for the government, said voters approved all the questions by greater than 60 percent. First official results were expected later Saturday.

The plebiscite was an important gauge of popularity for Correa, who was first elected in 2006 and easily re-elected in 2009 after a rewrite of the constitution. He is eligible for re-election in two years.

Some of the questions were straightforward, such as whether to ban bullfighting and gambling. Others were quite complex. Each required a separate vote.

Two of the most controversial measures would bar owners of news media from having other commercial interests and create a government media oversight panel.

Critics say both would make it easier for Correa, who is often at loggerheads with the largely opposition news media and business community, to subtly impose censorship.

Another important ballot question called for dissolving Ecuador's judicial oversight council and replacing it with a temporary body given the task of reworking the system. Another would allow authorities to detain people for longer without filing charges.

Results of the exit poll were broadcast immediately after polls closed, and Vice President Lenin Moreno told reporters that the government took the victory with "humility" but added that lawmakers now have a mandate from the public to convert the vote's results into law.

Five of the questions mandate constitutional changes. The other five require congressional action.

Former President Lucio Gutierrez, a fierce Correa opponent, told The Associated Press that with the referendum Correa "seeks to take by force justice and dominate the news media."

Correa, who did not immediately speak, is a close ally of President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and is firmly in South America's leftist bloc.

He enjoys a 65 percent approval rating in a corruption-bedeviled country that in the decade prior to his election saw three presidents, most recently Gutierrez, ousted in popular revolts.

With a forceful, uncompromising style, Correa has alienated many former allies, including leaders of Ecuador's indigenous movement. They are angry with his insistence that the state have the last word on subsoil and water rights.

But Correa's populist programs, such as $35 monthly payments to nearly 2 million poor families, construction of low-income housing and a commitment to universal free education, have boosted his popularity in this small Andean nation of 14.3 million people.

Political analyst Adrian Bonilla of the FLACSO think tank says that with strong leadership, Correa has ably leveraged Ecuador's oil wealth and an effective tax system into popular programs.

He has drawn criticism for alleged autocratic tendencies, however. Former President Osvaldo Hurtado, a conservative in the Christian Democratic party, said before Saturday's vote that Correa has conjured "a perfect dictatorship" by manipulating democratic institutions much as many say Chavez has in Venezuela.

Correa has alienated many foreign investors by renegotiating oil contracts to give Ecuador a higher cut of profits and has forged new business ties with China and Iran.

Last month, he expelled U.S. Ambassador Heather Hodges after the WikiLeaks website disclosed a diplomatic cable from her suggesting Correa was well aware but tolerant of high-level corruption in Ecuador's national police. Correa denied the allegation.

Polls indicated before Saturday's vote that about half of Ecuadoreans were having trouble understanding the ballot questions.

Many voted "no" as a result.

"The truth is I don't understand a lot of the questions," said Nataly Mendez, a 24-year-old pharmaceutical representative voting in Quito's lower-middle-class Don Bosco neighborhood. "That's why I voted no."

Many who voted "yes" said it was out of esteem for the government.

"We Ecuadoreans should be committed and help out if we want things to change," said Maria Lourdes Silva, a 43-year-old cosmetics saleswoman.

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Wisconsin Judge Declares Union Law Not in Effect

AP/Milwakee Journal Sentinel

Friday: Judge Maryann Sumi listens to arguments during a hearing in Dane County Curcuit Court in Madison, Wis.

A Wisconsin judge ruled Thursday that the state's explosive new union law that would severely limit the collective bargaining power of most public-sector employees is not in effect.

Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi's ruling follows a restraining order she issued earlier this month preventing the secretary of state from publishing the law, typically the last step before it takes effect. But another state office published it and Republicans who pushed the legislation declared the law in effect. Sumi issued a declaration on Thursday morning saying the law wasn't properly published.

The ruling deals a setback to Gov. Scott Walker and his administration, which said Tuesday that work on the payroll changes would stop if Sumi ruled the law hadn't taken effect.

The ruling is just the latest twist in a budget drama that has gripped the nation's attention for the last several weeks.

Republicans passed the bill this month by outmaneuvering Senate Democrats who had fled the state to block a vote. Republicans split the collective bargaining part from the budget relief bill so they wouldn't need a quorum to hold a vote.

But Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne and Assembly Minority Leader Pete Barca, both Democrats, filed a court challenge, arguing that Republicans violated the open meetings laws.

As the open meetings suit was pending, Sumi issued a temporary restraining order that prevented Secretary of State Ken LaFollete from publishing the law, now known as Act 10. Publication of the law is the last step to putting a bill into effect, and Democrats argue that the law is not in effect until LaFollete issues the publication. However, the Legislative Reference Bureau also has responsibility for publishing laws, and Republicans said LRB's publication makes it official.

Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen had advised Walker that because Sumi didn't specifically name the administration in her order barring further action on the law, it can proceed with the payroll changes. Justice Department Executive Assistant Steve Means said Wednesday that the state's position had not changed.

Republican Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald went further, openly questioning the judge's right to rule in the case, saying it "flies in the face of the separation of powers between the three branches of government."

"It's disappointing that a Dane County judge wants to keep interjecting herself into the legislative process with no regard to the state constitution," Fitzgerald said in a statement.

Walker released the rest of this year's budget balancing plan Wednesday, drawing support from Democratic leaders, and the Legislature was expected to pass it next week.

Sumi and others have suggested the Legislature could resolve issues over the legality of the collective bargaining law by simply passing it again.

Fox News' Mike Tobin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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