Petra News Agency
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Parliament reply statement to
speech from the throne
Amman, Dec. 17 (Petra) The two Chambers of Parliament on Monday presented their
reply statements to the Speech from the Throne. Senate House President Zeid
Rifai, who read out the House statement before His Majesty King Abdullah II at
Raghdan Palace said the Speech from the Throne came to enlighten the road and
specify the tasks and duties while Jordan is moving forward steadily for more
construction, reform and prosperity.
"The Speech from the Throne reinforced the fact that our homeland is moving forward with full determination and competence to realize the noble objectives as charted by Your Majesty," Rifai said. Jordan and the entire Arab region are passing through a stage fraught with challenges and the Senate House is confident that under the leadership of His Majesty the King, the coming four years will be years of welfare, prosperity, cooperation and integration between the legislative and executive authorities. The relationship between the Senate House and the government will be in accordance with tasks and responsibilities as determined by the constitution, Rifai said.
He affirmed that the Senate in cooperation with the House of Deputies will support the government's efforts designed to secure honorable life to citizens, which is the sublime objective of His Majesty the King. The House will be committed to the royal directives that priority of this parliamentary session will be for legislations tailored to enhance transparency and accountability. Meanwhile, increasing economic growth rate, augmenting monetary and financial stability, addressing debt problem and activating role of the private sector will be top priorities for the coming stage, Rifai said. On his part Speaker of the House of Deputies Abdel Hadi al-Majali said the House will be committed to the sound rules of partnership and cooperation with the executive authority and will fully respect rules of democracy based on respect of opinion and counter opinion.
"The challenges facing us all in economic, social and political spheres require from us to work in team spirit to strengthen the concept of justice, safeguard citizens' rights and instill the principles of comprehensive development," Majali said. The House of Deputies would like to affirm to Your Majesty its keenness to promote the culture of democracy and develop political pluralism. Economic development will be a top priority for the House through providing legislations designed to back the government plans to increase economic growth rate, Majali said.
On Sunday the 110-member House granted the newly formed government of Prime Minister Nader Dahabi a historic vote of confidence after garnering a record high 97 yes votes. The vote came as no surprise after the majority of lawmakers praised the premier and his 27-member team during the four-day debate of the government policy statement. The legislative body highly appreciates the King's unceasing efforts in cooperation with regional and international parties to help the Palestinians regain their occupied land and establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, Majali said.