What is happening in the Jordanian royal family can probably support some low-budget soap operas, just because of the twisting events in which the main actors are involved - the king, his wife, his half-brother, and even his son.
It is said that it is impossible to invent a better story than reality itself, and at least for the dignitaries of the Hashemite dynasty - there is no doubt that this is exactly the case.
In April 2021 the authorities in the kingdom uncovered an attempt to conspire against King Abdullah, and arrested suspects.
Even after Prince Hamza, the king's half-brother and who held the title of "regent" for about five years, the security services in Jordan followed for quite some time, and he was placed under house arrest. At one point King Abdullah decided that Hamza was less suitable for the job, or perhaps that his biological son, Hussein, was more suitable. Last November, Hussein was sent alone on a diplomatic mission in Egypt, not before he was awarded military ranks.
In fact, Abdullah is building him up for a future tenure as the one who will sit on the throne as part of the Game of Thrones.
The traces of Prince Hamza have more or less disappeared, at least in terms of the media profile of someone who until a few years ago was marked as heir.
The institutionalized media in Jordan almost ignores this unfortunate affair, in part because of the king's power and influence.
Hamza was forced to sign a document of allegiance to his half-brother, thus seemingly solving the problem of rebellion.
But unfortunately, Hamza is in very warm ties with the Bedouin of the south of the country, who are not fans of the current king, to say the least.
But this is not King Abdullah's only concern.
The entire kingdom is in a severe economic crisis, and revealed documents have revealed that while its subjects are kneeling under the daily burden, their king has closed millions of dollars in real estate deals abroad.
Two months after Hamza's house arrest, and in an attempt to divert public opinion in another direction, Abdullah convened a committee tasked with renewing the political system and making it more modern.
The result, of course, is not very surprising: the expansion of the king's powers, who now control the security apparatus and the judiciary.
Definitely modern.
Hamza plots in the king's court, which are not at all clear if they did happen, shook the palace and increased anxiety about the possibility of a future revolt.
This may very well be the reason for the reforms the king promoted, in an attempt to establish his rule and fortify his power.
The method is extremely cunning, and carefully done.
The political changes are supposedly the result of the work of a serious committee that includes broad representation, thus creating a misrepresentation that it was the will of the citizens that dictated the direction.
Protests have intensified across the network in support of the release of the former regent and current prisoner, Hamza, but in the meantime the king seems to be persevering.
Presumably what has been is what it will be: modernity will not become the king's policy, and reasonable democracy will not be seen there.
One thing is for sure - Prince Hamza would have preferred to play a different role in this dismal telenovela.
Were we wrong?
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