Government delays submission of elections bill

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Sunday said the government will not submit a draft elections law at this stage and will instead focus on the political parties and municipalities bills.

His remarks came during the Sunday’s session of the Lower House.

The announcement was made amid a public debate over a possible peace deal between the Palestinians and the Israelis that might leave the majority of Palestinian refugees in their host countries. 

There have been warnings against putting the elections bill on the table at this particular stage because it would be perceived as part of a plan to permanently settle Palestinian refugees in Jordan, especially if the bill would ensure Jordanians of Palestinian origin more representation in Parliament. 

However, House Speaker Saad Hayel Srour criticised Ensour for a different reason. He charged that delaying the law suggests that the House will be dissolved so that another Chamber will be elected to decide on the most important, and sensitive, political reform-related law.

Last week, the premier said that the government plans to submit the bill to push forward the political reform agenda. However, his remarks caused MPs and politicians to express fears that there is an intention to dissolve Parliament before it completes its four-year term.