Cabinet endorses by-law on funding political parties

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Wednesday endorsed the 2016 by-law outlining the mechanism of the government's financial support for political parties. 

For a political party to receive funds, it has to be no less than one year old with at least 500 members from no less than seven governorates, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Women members should constitute at least 10 per cent of the party, while members from each governorate should make up 5 per cent at least.

Under the by-law, eligible political parties will receive JD50,000 in annual financial support from the government and an additional JD2,000 for each of their members who wins a Lower House seat, according to Petra.

The support for Lower House seats is capped at five members.

Political and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Khaled Kalaldeh said at the meeting that with the endorsement of the by-law, “the legislation and executive measures related to the Political Parties Law are now completed”.

Also on Wednesday, the Council of Ministers endorsed the 2016 draft weapons and ammunition law, Petra said.

Interior Minister Salameh Hammad said the law regulates possession of arms, import and export of weapons, and their maintenance and use, according to Petra.

The Cabinet also endorsed the 2016 amendments to the Tourism Law. 

These were made “to keep up with the quick changes in the tourism industry, to reduce violations by practitioners of the profession and ensure harmony and complementation among parties involved in tourism planning”, the agency said.