Royal Decree prorogues Parliament’s ordinary session

AMMAN — A Royal Decree was issued to prorogue Parliament’s ordinary session as of Sunday, May 15, 2022, according to a Royal Court statement.

During the ordinary session, Parliament amended several laws necessary to modernise the political system (the laws on political parties and elections, and related constitutional amendments), which all aim to establish a new political system based on effective political parties.

The endorsed amendments allow members of both chambers of Parliament to own no more than 5 per cent to conclude lease, sale, barter, or any other type of contract with public institutions or government-owned or supervised companies while in office.

The bill, the 14th amendment to the Jordanian Constitution since 1952, comprises 25 articles, besides the addition of the phrase “Jordanian women” to the title of the Second Chapter of the Constitution. The title now reads the “Rights and Duties of Jordanian Men and Women”, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.  

The amendments also lowered the age for candidacy for Lower House elections from 30 to 25 years, provided that candidates meet the membership conditions stipulated in the Elections Law. This aims to encourage youth participation in political life.

Parliament further endorsed the Elections Law, which redrew electoral districts as local and general with 138 seats, 97 of which are for local constituencies distributed over 18 constituencies, and 41 are for the general list allocated for political parties and partisan alliances.

Under the bill, political parties will witness a gradual increase in seats in the upcoming Lower House, starting from a percentage ranging between 30 to 50 per cent, until it reaches 65 per cent during the next 10 years, under a course in parallel with economic and administrative reforms.