King entrusts Rifai with chairing Royal Committee to Modernise Political System

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday sent a letter to Samir Rifai, entrusting him with chairing the Royal Committee to Modernise the Political System.

The committee’s mission will be to put forward new draft election and political parties laws; look into the necessary constitutional amendments connected to the two laws and the mechanisms of parliamentary work; and provide recommendations on developing legislation regulating local administration, expanding participation in decision-making, and creating a political and legislative environment conducive to the active engagement of youth and women in public life.

The committee is composed of 92 members from diverse political, ideological, and sectoral backgrounds, according to a Royal Court statement.

Following is the English translation of the letter:

“In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful,

Your Excellency Samir Rifai,

Peace, God's mercy and blessings be upon you,

I convey to you my greetings and best wishes of success, having known you for many years as a Jordanian devoted to the homeland, who has worked diligently in various positions and devotedly shouldered the responsibility, out of a belief that Jordan’s interest is your one purpose and compass.

Today, with Jordan on the threshold of a new phase of progress and modernisation, I hereby entrust you with chairing the Royal Committee to Modernise the Political System. Its mission will be to put forward new draft election and political parties laws; look into the necessary constitutional amendments connected to the two laws and the mechanisms of parliamentary work; and provide recommendations on developing legislation regulating local administration, expanding participation in decision-making, and creating a political and legislative environment conducive to the active engagement of youth and women in public life.

Your Excellency,

Modernisation and development are characteristics of active states and peoples, and our dear Jordanian people have always been at the forefront of those seeking progress and reform. I am proud of what our nation has achieved over its long history, and I feel duty-bound to continue the process of development to guarantee Jordanians’ right to engage in a parliamentary and political life that enhances their democracy and way of life and contributes to fulfilling their aspirations, as our state embarks on its second centennial.

We are determined to bring about a qualitative leap in political and parliamentary life, in a manner that guarantees the objectives and aspirations for the future. We expect you to come up with a legislative framework to set the grounds for effective partisan life capable of persuading voters with its platforms, leading to a parliament built on platform-based blocs and currents, and establishing for an advanced phase in the way the executive branch exercises its responsibilities, in accordance with the Jordanian Constitution.

It is of importance to us that your honourable committee pay attention to the role of youth and explore means of motivating their engagement in partisan and parliamentary life, while empowering women’s active engagement and promoting the values of good citizenship — in terms of rights, duties, freedoms guaranteed by legislation, and the full adherence to the rule of law.

Here, I find it necessary to underscore that the seven discussion papers I put forth for public debate years ago, and the attention they received, could guide your efforts and contribute to mapping out the future of our country and people.

I guarantee before all Jordanians that my government will adopt the outcomes of the committee’s work, and will submit them to Parliament immediately without any interventions or attempts to alter or influence them.

Your responsibility today entails putting forward consensually agreed on draft laws that guarantee gradual transition into the full realisation of future goals and the fair representation of citizens across the nation, while serving citizens in current times and foreseeing developments in their lives and their future.

Today, we take our first step into the state’s second centennial, and we want our national history to record that it started with a dedicated, earnest national effort towards further development and progress.

Your Excellency,

I am awaiting the outcome of your work, which shall include the recommendations and proposed draft laws, provided that their date of submission would precede the convening of the next ordinary session of Parliament.

We have selected Your Excellency to chair the Royal Committee to Modernise the Political System that shall include the following members:

1. Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs

2. Saleh Irshaidat

3. Amin Mahmoud

4. Samir Habashneh

5. Abdul Rahim Okour

6. Ahmad Tbeishat

7. Bassam Haddadin

8. Walid Masri

9. Mohammad Momani

10. Reem Abu Hassan

11. Mazen Qadi

12. Khawla Armouti

13. Haditha Khraisha

14. Ahmad Abbadi

15. Mohammad Abu Rumman

16. Fares Braizat

17. Mustafa Hamarneh

18. Madallah Tarawneh

19. Samar Haj Hassan

20. Yasser Otoum

21. Hamzah Mansour

22. Mohammed Arslan

23. Hussein Queisi

24. Khalid Bakkar

25. Jamil Nimri

26. Mohammad Dawaimeh

27. Wafa Bani Mustafa

28. Abla Abu Olbeh

29. Khamis Atieh

30. Adnan Al Sawair

31. Mustafa Yaghi

32. Ali Sneid

33. Amjad Al Khattab

34. Reem Abu Dalbouh

35. Kais Zayadin

36. Khaled Ramadan

37. Ibrahim Bdour

38. Ibrahim Abu Alez

39. Dima Tahboub

40. Faraj Etmezeh

41. Ahmad Shunnaq

42. Nathir Arabiyat

43. Sharaf Qudah

44. Zeid Kilani

45. Abdul Hadi Falahat

46. Ahmad Samara Zubi

47. Abla Amawi

48. Saed Karajeh

49. Laith Nasrawin

50. Wafa Khadra

51. Bushra Abu Shahout

52. Asia Yaghi

53. Mohammad Saqer

54. Bilal Tal

55. Ramadan Rawashdeh

56. Raed Adwan

57. Wael Saqqa

58. Ziad Majali

59. Muhannad Mubaidin

60. Yacoub Nasereddin

61. Orabi Rantawi

62. Zaid Eyadat

63. Musa Shteiwi

64. Hassan Barari

65. Amer Bani Amer

66. Amer Al Sabaileh

67. Hani Akhu Rasheedeh

68. Mohammad Farajat

69. Maysa Baidoun

70. Omar Al Jazi

71. Reem Marayat

72. Mohammad Sabbagh

73. Muna Sukhtian

74. Basem Sakijha

75. Batir Wardam

76. Zaid Nawaiseh

77. Ramzi Khouri

78. Maha Obeidiyeen

79. Adma Zureiqat

80. Jamal Raggad

81. Zaid Nabulsi

82. Alaa Kayed

83. Sultan Khalaileh

84. Fahad Husban

85. Rakan Rowad

86. Anas Bilieh

87. Mai Abu Idad

88. Ahmad Salman

89. Lina Aloul

90. Obaidah Farajallah

91. Abdullah Jbarah

92. Ahmad Sheikha

Wishing you every success.

Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

Your brother,

Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein

Amman, 10 June 2021.”