Lower House endorses amendments to Independent Elections Commission Law

AMMAN — The Lower House on Monday approved amendments to the Independent Elections Commission Law. 

The bill is part of efforts to implement the recent constitutional amendments regarding the political parties, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Deputies added the phrase "political parties" to the title of the commission. MPs' call for a re-vote on a proposal to scrap the "political parties" phrase for suspicions of "lacking constitutionality of the addition" failed, where Lower House Speaker Abdulkarim Dughmi stressed the illegality of re-voting after the House endorsed the entire bill. 

Also on Monday, the Chamber began discussing amendments to the Penal Code. 

Lawmakers refused an amendment by the government that would allow for the continued imprisonment of a convict who was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour or lifetime imprisonment, after the lapse of 30 years of the sentence. MPs maintained the original text that stipulates good conduct for the release after 30 years, Petra added. 

During the session, which was attended by Cabinet members, heads of House committees and representatives of blocs denounced the Israeli attacks in Jerusalem and voiced solidarity with His Majesty King Abdullah to combat all attempts to change the historical and legal status quo in the holy city.