Deputies scrap bachelor's degree requirement for mayoral candidates

AMMAN — Deputies on Wednesday went back on their previous amendment to the draft municipalities law that stipulated a bachelor's degree as the minimum academic requirement for candidates for mayor.

Endorsing the Upper House's amendments to the 2015 municipalities law, Lower House members scrapped the article they themselves previously added to the bill on the grounds, as senators insisted, that education credentials should not prevent eligible candidates from running for the post. 

In mid-August, the Lower House had endorsed an article requiring candidates for the position of mayor in areas with a population of 100,000 or more to be bachelor’s degree holders.

Candidates running for the position of mayor in areas with a population of more than 15,000 and less than 100,000 should, under deputies' amendments, hold a high school degree as the minimum requirement.

However, deputies insisted on their amendments to the Independent Elections Commission (IEC) Law to include appointments in the oversight agency under the jurisdiction of the Civil Service Bureau.

Attending Wednesday's session, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour supported the Lower House's changes to the IEC Law, explaining that they serve the government's endeavour to merge independent public institutions. 

"Running the Jordanian state with tens of laws, by-laws and regulations is highly disturbing for the government and it creates inequality and injustice among public employees," Ensour said.

The laws will now be referred to the Senate for deliberations.