MPs approve 33 articles in draft political parties’ law

AMMAN — The Lower House on Monday discussed the draft political parties’ law.

Over two days, the lawmakers approved 33 out of the bill’s 43 articles, and they will continue deliberations on Tuesday, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.    

The MPs approved the conditions for a request to establish a political party, which shall include the principles and the party’s initial ideas.

The bill also stipulates that a foundation conference shall be held by the party within a year after meeting the requirements, with the attendance of no less than a third of the party’s 1,000 founders, who must represent six governorates at least, provided that at least one of the founders is with a disability, as well as the percentage of young people, aged between 18 and 35, and women is no less 10 per cent for each group.   

The draft law also identifies the duties of a political party, including abidance by the Constitution, respecting the rule of law, maintaining the country’s independence and security, and ensuring to not be regulatory or financially linked to any non-Jordanian body and to not implement the directives of any state or a third party, among other rules.  

The bill also allows for university students who join political parties to engage in partisan activities within the campuses of their higher education institutions without any infringement of their rights, as a bylaw will be issued to regulate such activities. 

Houses of worship and schools shall not be part of the partisan activities, while the facilities of the unions, associations and clubs can be used for such activities, provided obtaining a prior approval, as per the draft law. 

A political party is also prohibited from receiving any funding, cash or in-kind donations from any non-Jordanian state or entity, as well as from a non-Jordanian individual, or any anonymous source.

Under the bill, party headquarters are exempted from taxes and fees, and a provision in the state budget will be introduced for supporting political parties.