Erstellt am: 5. 10. 2012 - 14:13 Uhr

Arab Spring in the Jordanian Autumn

Reality Check: Jordan, Venezuela elections, Women on Waves, trauma and refugees, Spain financial crisis

Jordan has been pretty quiet as far as Arab Spring activity goes, which perhaps doesn't come as any surprise. It's generally considered to be one of the most democratic and western looking of the Arab countries. Its human rights record is good in relation to its neighbours, and the trade and business initiatives brought in by King Abdullah II since he took power in 1999 have built a strong economy.

It's a constitutional monarch, which means that there is a king and a parliament, rather like Britain, or Norway, or Japan. The king has limited powers and performs ceremonial duties, and the parliament runs the country.

Not much to complain about, then? Well, not quite. Under the Jordanian constitution, the king still has too much power, according to the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood.

Since the start of the Arab Spring there have been low level protests, but they have been mostly small scale, peaceful events aimed more at chivvying up reform then setting off a revolution - until now.

As the Muslim Brotherhood look across to Egypt, and the power their equivalents there have secured, pressure is being ratcheted up on King Abdullah to give up more of his powers, and major demonstrations have been planned. Tensions have also been raised by the influx of refugees from Syria, and fears that violence may spill over the borders, as it already has in Turkey.

Yesterday, the king dissolved parliament, called early elections and has pledged political reforms in a bid to defuse the impending protests - but how far would such reforms go?

Our regional correspondent, Karim El Gawhary, explains that while Jordan may appear more democratic on the surface, the underlying structure is not much different from its neighbours.

Venezuela elections

Venezuelans go to the polls on Sunday in what is being seen as the most serious challenge yet to Hugo Chavez. Ahead of tomorrow's Reality Check Special on the elections, we look at the effect the result will have outside the country's borders. Larry Birns , director of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, explains that although Chavez may be a "bad boy" to the USA, he has done a lot for Latin America as an international player.

Lange Woche der Flucht

Nora Ramirez Castillo of Hemayat talks to Joanna Bostock about the trauma that often afflicts refugees coming to Austria (Lange Woche der Flucht).

Women on waves

"Women on Waves" is a Dutch non-profit organisation which sails a ship to countries where abortion is illegal and provides safe, non-surgical abortions.

It usually visits Catholic countries, but has now made its first attempt to help women in an Islamic country, Morocco.

Gunilla Kleiverda, a gynecologist with Women on Waves, explains how the group works and what they have managed to achieve despite being turned away from Moroccan shores.

Spain's Euro crisis

A young teacher in Spain talks to Nina Hochrainer about how he has been affected by the country's economic crisis. Hear more personal stories of how the Euro crisis has hit young people in Greece in tonight's Jugendzimmer.

FM4 Reality Check

Monday to Friday from 12.00 to 14.00, and after the show via Podcast or fm4.orf.at/realitycheck.