Jordan Times
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Parliament Watch
The Lower House is scheduled to elect its 14 permanent committees in today’s session and discuss the draft reply to the Speech from the Throne.
Deputies held a series of meetings over the past few days to reach an understanding on the main committees in order to avoid a prolonged election process.
Last year, MPs spent over a month over the formation of the committees, delaying the House’s goal to discuss as many laws as possible.
The Lower House will also approve the final copy of its reply to the Speech from the Throne, which was delivered by His Majesty King Abdullah during the opening session last week.
The House chose a number of veteran deputies to form a committee charged with drafting the reply, including Saad Srour, who will head the panel. Other members include Hazem Al Naser, Mahmoud Kharabsheh, Mejhem Kreisha, Mohammad Al Haj, Youssef Qarneh, Tharwat Amr, Mefleh Rheimi, Abdul Rahim Biqai, Salah Zu’bi and Mohammad Zayati.
In his Speech from the Throne, the King stressed giving economic reform plans priority over the coming four years in a bid to improve citizens’ living standards.
He also told the legislative and executive authorities to work together as partners to speed up reform plans.
Meanwhile, Lower House records show that citizens contested the election of 27 deputies, including Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali and his first deputy Mamdouh Abbadi.
Among those who filed objections is former MP Hayat Museimeh, who contested the legality of the women’s quota.
The House is scheduled to elect a special committee to look into the complaints, the majority filed against deputies from Amman.
Sources in the Lower House told The Jordan Times that most of the complaints would be rejected.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem will arrive in Amman today for a visit upon an invitation from Minister of Foreign Affairs Salah Bashir, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said. The two officials will discuss developments in the Middle East and means to bolster bilateral ties. The Joint Higher Jordanian-Syrian Committee will hold a meeting late this month - JT