Jordan Times
Tuesday, March 16, 2004

Debate on temporary municipal law begins

By Khalid Dalal

“If deputies vote that the government should go back to the old system of electing all municipal council members, including mayors, the government will respect and implement their decision,” she said.

Some deputies on Monday described the amendment, introduced by the former government, as “undemocratic,” saying the country should go back to the old municipal elections system.

Independent Amman MP Abdul Rahim Malhas said if the government is sincere in its efforts to enhance political development in the country, among the first things it should do is “give people the right to elect all their representatives in the municipal councils.”

He said the system of appointing half the municipal council members along with the mayors did not result in enhancing the efficiency of municipal services offered to the public, as the former government claimed.

When the amendment to the Municipal Law was introduced, the former government said it was part of a comprehensive plan to salvage the troubled municipal sector by securing more funds for municipalities [an additional JD15 million annually], merging them to cut expenses [from 328 to 99 municipalities] and rehabilitating 18,000 municipal staff.

Zarqa Deputy Ali Abu Sukar agreed, saying “if the controversial amendment is removed, some deputies might ask the government to retract the results of the July 26 polls — where 50 per cent of municipal council members, including mayors, were appointed — and hold new elections.”

Several deputies asked the former government to postpone municipal elections last year in order to have time to study the amendment. But, the government proceeded with its preparations and organised elections, which witnessed a voter turn out of 58 per cent. Several lawmakers, mainly from the Islamic Action Front, boycotted the elections.

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