AMMAN (JT) – The Royal Committee on Constitutional Review on Sunday presented the outcome of its three-month work to His Majesty King Abdullah, who said that, with this achievement, planned political reforms are expected to be in place before the end of the year.

The amendments were presented during a special ceremony, followed by an iftar banquet at the Royal Court, attended by representatives of the three powers, the military and security services, political parties, professional associations, civil society organisations, heads of diplomatic missions and media leaders.

His Majesty highlighted in his remarks at the ceremony that following the endorsement of the suggested changes, there will emerge “an institutionalised political process that respects the rotation of power through parliamentary governments and a modern election process in which political parties compete on the basis of national platforms”.

According to literature provided by the committee and released by the Royal Court, the committee introduced changes, including omissions, to 42 articles of the 1952 Constitution, in response to public demands and directives of the King, who, according to the committee’s Explanatory Memorandum, “entrusted [us] not only with revisiting the constitutional amendments that were the focus of a recent debate, but also to carry out a comprehensive revision of the constructional provisions in this prestigious document” (see table of all amendments).

The King said in his remarks at the ceremony, echoed by head of the committee Ahmad Lozi in his address, that the amendments to the Constitution were driven by the desire to ensure wider public participation in the decision-making process, separation between the branches of government and a clear definition of the responsibilities of each of these branches in “a manner that truly reflects the Hashemite tradition and good governance in state administration” (see official translation of the King’s address and Lozi’s remarks).

The major amendments, highlighted by the King and the committee, include the establishment of a constitutional court that meets the highest international standards and the formation of an independent commission to oversee the elections, which were among the key recommendations of the National Dialogue Committee. read more from The Jordan Times.

His Majesty King Abdullah is presented a file of amendments to the Constitution expected to boost the political reform process by head of Royal Committee on Constitutional Review Ahmad Lozi on Sunday (Photo by Yousef Allan)