Jordan Times
Sunday, December 2, 2007
15th Parliament convenes today for ordinary session
AMMAN (JT) - His Majesty King Abdullah will today inaugurate the 15th Parliament with a Speech from the Throne that will focus on country’s economic and political issues and highlight working guidelines for the new government.
The session will be attended by the government of Prime Minister Nader Dahabi, which was sworn in before the King last Sunday, as well as the newly appointed 55 senators, including a record of seven women.
Following the speech, the Senate will convene to elect various committees and a panel to draft a reply to the King’s address, in accordance with the Upper House’s bylaws.
Afterwards, the 110-member Lower House will meet in a separate session to elect its speaker for the first ordinary session as well as members of the permanent office, including House deputy speakers.
According to the House’s bylaws, the first meeting is chaired by the eldest deputy, who happens to be former speaker Abdul Hadi Majali.
The veteran deputy is expected to nominate himself for the post against a number of heavyweight candidates including Mamdouh Abbadi (Amman, 3rd District) and Tawfiq Kreishan (Maan, 1st District).
Statements leaking from the corridors of Parliament suggest that MP Mijhem Khreisha (Central Badia) will be running against Deputy Bassam Haddadin (Zarqa, 1st District) for the position of deputy speaker.
Deputy Falak Jamaani (Madaba, 2nd District), the only woman who won her seat through open competition, will run for speakership, House sources told The Jordan Times.
Jamaani had recently held a meeting that brought together at least 20 MPs, who reportedly “promised her their support”.
Observers, however, believe the battle for the speaker position is a done deal, with former House speaker Majali in pole position.