Vote of no-confidence in government unlikely — sources

AMMAN — In spite of a memorandum signed by a group of MPs requesting a no confidence vote in the government, parliamentary sources on Wednesday expressed doubt over the signatories' ability to "go the last mile”.

For these sources, the memo, now in the Lower House's permanent office, "was born dead”.

Put forward by the House's Reform bloc, the memo, a copy of which was seen by The Jordan Times, calls for a vote of no confidence in the government of Prime Minister Hani Mulki, citing its "inability to address the current challenges and the tax burdens it has put on citizens".

During Tuesday's session, House Speaker Atef Tarawneh said that the Chamber will discuss the memo once it completes other previously scheduled topics. 

 According to the House's bylaws, a request of no confidence in the government should be included on the House agenda for the next session if signed by at least 10 MPs. 

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." 

When asked why it was not scheduled on the House agenda yet, a parliamentary source said: "It is normal to give mediators a chance to settle the dispute between MPs and the government."

"This memo in particular was born dead because its signatories are angry of  something from the government that the House has itself endorsed [tax hikes]," the source, who preferred to remain unnamed said.

"Plus, it [the request of no confidence] was initiated by the Reform bloc, whose members were absent when the prices and tax hikes were endorsed."

The 14-member Reform bloc was absent from the House's vote on the 2018 State Budget Law.

The source added that the memo's signatories may not be able to find support from the majority of their colleagues. "That is a big concern for them."

"It is just confusing. How come you are angry at  something your institution, of which you are a member, has approved," the source said.

An MP, who also requested anonymity, said that his colleagues' request for a vote of no confidence "was not well-coordinated”.

"It [the no-confidence vote] is a 'huge' political move that needs to be collectively agreed upon by a big number of deputies and not only 22," he added. 

"I cannot sense a fully fledged consensus inside the House on the government's departure."