MPs amends Election Law, modifies threshold for party lists seat allocation

AMMAN — The Lower House on Wednesday passed an amendment to one paragraph in the Election Law, changing the threshold for seat allocation to party lists in electoral districts. 

Under MPs' amendments, paragraph A of article 49 of the Election Law reads: "Each list exceeding the electoral threshold will secure seats in proportion to its vote share out of the total votes for lists surpassing the electoral threshold in the respective local electoral district. If three lists are not reached in districts with three or more seats, or two lists in districts with two seats, the Independent Elections Commission decreases the threshold by one per cent, respectively, until the winning party lists are divided into three in districts with three competitive seats at a minimum and two seats in districts with two competitive seats."

The threshold percentage for local lists is 7 per cent, while for general (national) lists it is 2.5 per cent.

Of the 130-strong Lower House, 104 MPs have requested that the said paragraph be amended. The House Speaker Ahmad Safadi said that the Legal Committee has "thoroughly" examined the lawmakers' request, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

The amendment, according to its validating reasons, aims to enhance political life and reform, and ensure a wider representation of political parties in the Lower House, Petra said.