Jordan Times
Friday, February 23, 2007
Senate committee
endorses municipalities draft law
AMMAN (Petra) — The joint Senate Legal and Administrative Committee endorsed the
municipalities draft law during a meeting on Wednesday chaired by Senate
President Zeid Rifai. In accordance with the Constitution, the panel decided to
retain the article stipulating members of Parliament cannot serve in municipal
councils. The law, which was endorsed by the Lower House earlier this month,
grants women a 20 per cent quota in municipal councils and allows for the direct
election of mayors outside Amman. It also reduces the age of eligible voters
from 19 to 18 years to allow a wider range of citizens to take part in voting.
Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit said the government plans to start preparations for
elections once the law is enacted. Minister of Municipal Affairs Nader Thuheirat
and Minister of Justice Sharif Zu’bi attended the meeting.