MPs in altercation as bitter budget debate continues

AMMAN — The Lower House’s second session to debate the 2017 draft budget ended abruptly on Tuesday evening after an altercation between MPs.

Islamist MPs representing Al Islah (Reform) bloc jeered MP Tarek Khoury (Zarqa, 1st District) when he suggested that former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi was put in power by the United States.

Khoury said in his remarks that at a time when Jordan helps protect its allies’ interests in the region, these allies do not extend help with Jordan's budget deficit.

“Our allies turned the tables on Egypt to place Morsi as president and funded him with $19 billion in 2012 ," he continued.

Khoury was interrupted by Islamist MP Abdullah Akaileh (Amman, 2nd District), who said: "That is not true," and another MP shouted:  "This is an insult to religion. Morsi is a religious figure."

"If he wasn’t placed [in power by the US], he would not have received these huge funds,” Khoury retorted.

Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh told the interrupting MPs to remain quiet, warning: “Those who cannot tolerate political debate should leave.”

The dispute re-ignited when MP Tamer Bino (Amman, 5th District) approached Tarawneh’s podium and addressed the permanent office in an aggressive manner, striking the podium in protest to Khoury’s speech. 

Bino was immediately removed by force .

Tarawneh subsequently addressed the Lower House, who voted to refer Bino to the House Conduct Committee, while also  excluding him from the next seven Lower House sessions.

Before the adjournment of the session, MPs took turns to speak, with arguments mainly focused on economic conditions in the country and the high rates of unemployment and poverty. 

Several deputies accused the government of obscuring its approach to the economic situation in the policy statement in order to gain the legislature’s vote of confidence. 

Most MPs who spoke yesterday agreed that the government should prosecute officials involved in corruption and restore embezzled public funds.

Deputy Kheirallah Abu Seileek (Amman, 4th District) said: “Grants and loans are no longer an efficient finance strategy.  This requires from us to develop a national economic model which effectively harnesses Jordan’s resources and potential.”

Ajloun Deputy Safaa Momani addressed the environmental hazards threatening some areas in Jordan, and asked: “How much of the budget funds will go towards protecting the environment and treating those affected by pollution?”

Momani highlighted the situation of many private universities which are going “bankrupt”.

MP Omar Qaraqish (Amman, 2nd District) said: “The bill should be sent back to the government for more revision, since it does not have any answers or solutions that are fair to citizens.”

Deputy Qusai Dmeisi (Zarqa, 1st District) described the budget bill as “crippled”, while also attacking the government, saying: “This is a feeble government, unable to face Jordanians or deliver anything promised to citizens.”

“Unemployment, drug use and dealing and suicide are all increasing due to the failure in implementing government policies”, Dmeisi said.

Deputy Jawdat Darabseh (Irbid, 2nd District), said that increasing taxes and prices of commodities would lead to higher crime rates “and render our youth an easy target for poisonous ideologies”.

Ajloun Deputy Ahmad Freihat suggested investing in shale oil, with the deputy saying there is around 70 billion tonnes of raw material in Jordan.   

Oqlah Zboun, a Jerash representative, stressed that governments cannot keep up the price-hiking strategy. “It will lead us nowhere,” he said.    

While some MPs predicted a “grim future” for Jordan, other MPs stressed the need to reduce spending in governmental entities and create job opportunities to ensure social justice.

The legislators will continue to debate the 2017 draft laws for the state budget and the budgets of independent government units on Wednesday.