Gov’t refers civil retirement bill to Constitutional Court

AMMAN — The Cabinet has referred the controversial civil retirement draft law to the Constitutional Court after the constitutionality of the bill was questioned during a public debate triggered by Parliament’s decision to grant lifelong pensions to lawmakers.

According to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the decision was taken during the Cabinet’s meeting on
September  24, upon a directive by His Majesty King Abdullah, who declined to endorse the law, citing doubts over its legitimacy raised by constitutional experts amid public outcry and nationwide criticism of the legislators’ decision.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour in mid-September, His Majesty said that the debate triggered by the law, approved during a joint Parliament session the previous week, suggests that there is suspicion over the constitutionality of the draft law, urging the government to refer it to the Constitutional Court and then carry out a thorough study that works out a “realistic solution” that ensures justice for all, taking into consideration the difficult economic situation and budgetary strains. 

Under the law, MPs and senators granted themselves lifetime pensions equal to those of ministers, setting seven years of service in Parliament or civil service as an eligibility condition. 

In 2012, the legislature annulled a 2010 temporary law that cancelled pension and other benefits to which lawmakers had been entitled.

King Abdullah declined to ratify the move then and asked the government to study the matter and come up with a new law.

People from all walks of life expressed resentment over the bill and reacted with joy when the King stopped short of signing the version approved by the two Chambers.

According to Petra, citing a letter Ensour addressed to the Constitutional Court, the government worded two questions regarding the bill: Is it legal to treat the service of a member of Parliament as civil service? Is it legitimate to take the retirement pension decision with a retroactive effect? 

The second question refers to a provision in the bill that grants financial benefits to all those who were members of Parliament in October 2010 and henceforth.