Lower House session adjourned after loss of quorum

AMMAN — The Lower House lost quorum on Sunday at a meeting scheduled to resume discussion of the government’s economic policies.

First Deputy Speaker MP Mustafa Amawi (Islamic Centrist Party list) apologised for not being able to continue the session after almost 50 minutes due to the lack of quorum. 

“Regrettably, I have to adjourn the meeting,” he said. The House’s quorum is achieved with the presence of two-thirds of its 150 members.

Lawmakers were scheduled to present their response to Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour’s defence of the government’s economic policies, which he presented last week.

Before adjourning the session, some MPs presented their parliamentary blocs’ response to the government, with some of them calling for curbing public expenditure and price hikes.

According to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the National Union bloc stressed the need for constant partnership between the government and the House in handling the country’s affairs and solving citizens’ economic problems.

Speaking on behalf of the National Gathering bloc, leftist MP Mustafa Shneikat attributed economic imbalances to the government’s economic approach, calling for “resurrecting” the state’s social role, Petra said.

The Watan [nation] bloc said citizens are unable to bear price hikes, urging the government to refer to the House for any sensitive decisions.

Other blocs called on the government to stop resorting to citizens’ pockets to narrow the budget deficit and increase salaries of public servants to meet inflation rates.