Jordan Times
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Media briefed on updated outline of Political Development Strategy Action Plan
By Reem Rawashdeh
AMMAN — The government on Monday briefed key media figures on an updated outline
of a three-part strategy to enhance political life in the Kingdom.
At a meeting with chief editors of dailies and weeklies, the director general of
the Jordan News Agency, Petra, and prominent columnists, Minister of Political
Development and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Mohammad Daoudiyeh highlighted
“the pivotal role of print media in promoting the Political Development Strategy
and Action Plan and reflecting on it with constructive rather than destructive
criticism.”
Daoudiyeh expected the strategy to face opposition from “groups in society that
oppose reform. “But this is democracy,” the minister said.
Commenting on the situation of political parties in Jordan, Daoudiyeh said the
present shape of these parties “impedes the political development process and
delays government financial support for the parties.”
The minister told the press leaders that dialogue has already started to amend
the elections and political parties laws, which are scheduled to be replaced by
new ones by 2006, according to the timetable of the plan, a year before the next
elections.
Asked why the strategy does not include a plan to set up a constitutional court,
he said the issue is a subject of controversy, adding the government has no
problem working on such a plan if it senses consensus among concerned parties on
the proposal.
The Political Development Strategy and Action Plan was a culmination of talks
the government held over six months since last October.
The strategy highlights a programme to advance political development based on
continued dialogue, legislative action and institutionalisation of policies and
practices.
In the update released Monday, the ministry rephrased some items and updated the
status of laws and procedures envisioned in the first draft of the strategy,
released earlier this month.
The government seeks, through dialogue, “to end the phenomenon of the silent
passive majority” and support the principle of “compulsory participation” in
general elections, says the draft plan, which is still under consideration
before its final version is released.
The strategy highlights an “institutionalised implementation programme” which
involves the formation of a widely representative Royal committee for political
development tasked with amending the targeted laws.
A fixed time schedule is set for the implementation of this programme and an
evaluation process will be periodically conducted on envisioned progress, the
document says.