Jordan Times
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Gov’t set for easy win of Vote
of confidence
By Mohammad Ben Hussein
AMMAN - The government of Prime Minister Nader Dahabi is expected to win the
approval of the Lower House during today’s vote of confidence session.
Observers agree that the premier is expected to obtain the support of 95-100
MPs, out of House’s 110 members. They pointed out that several deputies who took
the stand during the four-day debate of the government’s policy statement
already announced their support for Dahabi and his team.
“The deliberations did not carry any signs that many MPs will be voting against
the government,” said Fares Breizat, deputy director of the Centre for Strategic
Studies at the University of Jordan.
Breizat also believes that the government has announced “solid programmes” the
public had not seen during last month’s parliamentary election campaigns. These
will play a role in the number of votes of confidence Dahabi will receive, he
said.
Over the past four days, the majority of deputies who addressed the House took
turns to speak highly of the premier, expressing confidence in his ability to
translate the guidelines in the Letter of Designation into facts on the ground.
Many went as far as declaring their intention to vote in favour of the
government, not waiting for the prime minister’s reply to the comments and
demands included in legislators’ remarks.
Analyst and columnist Nahed Hattar said the composition of House and its
“weakness” play into the hands of Dahabi.
“The government will receive a high number of votes of confidence regardless of
who the prime minister is, because Parliament is very weak.
“Most of the deputies are not politicians and there is a wide gap between them
and their constituencies,” he said.
Helmi Asmar, a political analyst, agreed with Breizat and Hattar, but added the
expected high vote of confidence is also attributed to the “realistic content of
the policy statement”.
Dahabi told lawmakers his team will carry out a parcel of measures to improve
the economy and help citizens cope with the increased cost of living. A total of
JD310 million has been put aside for salary raises to government, army and
security personnel, including pensioners.
However, Asmar believes the overwhelming vote of confidence that the government
is expected to receive will be “a burden” on it because it has to live up to the
high expectations.
“The government will have to work much harder to be up to this trust,” he said.
The only deputies expected to vote against Dahabi are the six Islamic Action
Front deputies, according to observers, along with two or three other deputies
of Islamist background.
During policy statement deliberations, Islamist lawmakers took a swipe at the
government’s economic policy, which will see further lifting of subsidies.
They warned against the “grave impact” it could have on the living standard of
citizens.
On Saturday, Deputy Mohammad Khalil Aqel (Balqa, 4th District) reiterated his
movement’s rejection to lifting subsidies on fuel, warning that the security of
the Kingdom might be at risk if no tangible measures to improve the living
standard of citizens are taken.
His Majesty King Abdullah asked Dahabi in the Letter of Designation to give
priority to economic reform as the country reels under massive inflation and a
high deficit in the state budget.
The prime minister yesterday continued his efforts to explain his government’s
plans to deputies, meeting MPs representing various governorates. In addition,
he met with IAF deputies in the presence of Minister of State for Parliamentary
Affairs Abdul Rahim Okour, himself a former IAF member.
At these meetings, Dahabi reiterated the government’s keenness to have “a solid
partnership with Parliament and coordination and consultations on various
national issues.”