Cabinet approves bylaw on Treasury contributions to political parties

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Sunday approved the 2023 financial contribution bylaw regulating support for political parties.

In accordance with the provisions of the law, the bylaw will enable licensed political parties to play their role on the basis of citizenship, equality, commitment to democracy and dedication to political pluralism by providing the parties with a financial contribution from public Treasury funds, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The draft aims to ensure parties' active participation in public political life and participation in elections through their financial contribution to reach Lower House of active partisan parliamentary blocs, as well as to strengthen the political role of women, youth and persons with disabilities in the partisan life.

Under the bylaw, the amount of the parties' financial contributionis determined in accordance with global standards and practices associated with the representation and presence of the political party on the basis of general elections.

According to the regulations, a party will receive a financial contribution of JD5,000 every four years to cover the expenses of its general conference, and JD10,000 in the event of the merger of two political parties, in accordance with the provisions of the law, and JD5,000 for each party joining the merger, to be disbursed one time only.

The resulting party will continue to receive the financial contribution of the merger parties until the following elections.

The party is also entitled to a financial contribution of JD30,000 if it achieves a proportion equivalent to 50 per cent or more of the deduction (threshold) stipulated in the Elections Law of the Lower House from the number of voters in the General Electoral District.

The party will also receive JD10,000 for each seat won, and 20 per cent of this amount will be allocated for each of the winners that are women, youth aged between 25 and 35 or persons with disabilities.

The party is also entitled to JD3,000 for each of the seat a party member wins on a municipal council, such as the council of the Greater Amman Municipality or the governorate council, with the amount capped at JD30,000.

The party alliance will also receive JD30,000 if it receives a proportion equivalent to 50 per cent or more of the deduction (threshold) stipulated in the Elections Law of the Lower House from the number of voters in the general electoral district. The party will receive JD10,000 for each seat won by the alliance, with the amount to be divided equally among the allied parties.

The bylaw will be published in the Official Gazette following its approval by Royal Decree.