Lawmakers, officials discuss reforms, war on Gaza with European Parliament delegation

AMMAN — Lower House Speaker Ahmad Safadi during, a meeting with the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with the Mashreq Countries, chaired by Isabel Santos, urged European Parliament to support His Majesty's efforts to halt the ongoing war on civilians in Gaza.

Safadi also highlighted Jordan's challenges resulting from refugee influxes and called on the international community to “honour its ethical and humanitarian commitments to refugee-hosting countries”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During the meeting, Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Haditha Khraisha said that Jordan is moving ahead steadily with political reforms, citing recent law aimed at increasing the involvement of political parties and citizens and expanding the scope of political engagement.

Khraisha also underlined Jordan's ability to maintain security and stability and moved ahead with political reforms despite regional upheavals, adding thatJordanian parties are well-prepared for the upcoming parliamentary elections under the new election and party laws.

He also said that 41 seats will be allocated to political parties in the Lower House in the upcoming election, to be increased to gradually to 50 per cent and 65 per cent in future elections. 

Also on Wednesday, the Independent Election Commission Chief Commissioner Musa Maaytah met with the visiting delegation

He highlighted that recent constitutional amendments and laws have laid the foundation for party coalitions in the upcoming Parliament. “This development will pave the way for the formation of parliamentary majority governments.”