By Raed Omari Jordan Times
AMMAN – The government will refer the political parties, constitutional court and elections laws to the Lower House in January, February and March respectively, the premier told deputies on Wednesday.
Presenting lawmakers with his government’s policy statement yesterday, Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh requested a vote of confidence that deputies will begin to debate on Monday, as announced after the presentation.
Khasawneh said his government was forced to cancel all decisions on municipalities taken by the former government which, he said, were incompatible with the Municipalities Law and, if they remained in effect, would always be subject to criticism.
He explained that the government, which was formed in October, will work on drafting a law amending the Municipalities Law and will refer it to the House before the end of this year.
“The government is committed to conducting municipal elections within six months at the latest from the date the legislation is endorsed,” Khasawneh said.
Note by the editor: With bigger problems elsewhere, in Syria and Egypt, Jordan’s pressure may have been reduced. However, the Government will be well advised to seriously go ahead with reforms, otherwise patience might run out here also.
Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh presents his government’s policy statement in Parliament on Wednesday (Petra photo)