Mulki's government survives no-confidence vote

AMMAN – The government on Sunday survived a parliamentary vote of no-confidence brought by a group of MPs over what they said lack of vision to address current challenges.

 A total of 67 deputies voted “yea” for granting confidence to the government of Prime Minister Hani Mulki, while 49 withheld confidence and 8 MPs abstained.

A total of 122 deputies out of the 130-seat Lower House attended the session.

Thanking the House for renewing confidence in his government, Mulki said he will move ahead with his government's decisions aiming at "upgrading the living conditions of all Jordanians and strengthening the country."

"The government will move ahead with its decisions and will not procrastinate because it is not seeking popularity," Mulki said.

A total of 22 MPs have signed a memorandum requesting a no-confidence motion against the government put forward by the House's 14-member Reform bloc.

 Signatories of the memo cited the government's "inability to address the current challenges and the tax burdens it has put on citizens" as the major validating reasons behind their request of no-confidence vote.

 Paragraph A of Article 54 of the Constitution says: "A session to consider a vote of confidence in the Council of Ministers or any individual minister shall be held at the request of the prime minister or a request signed by no less than 10 deputies."