Calls for improving living conditions dominate budget discussion

AMMAN — The Lower House resumed its deliberations of the 2016 draft state budget law on Tuesday, with MPs continuing to call for improving citizens’ living conditions and implementing development projects.

Some deputies described the budget bill as lacking well-defined policies to resolve persisting economic woes, which they attributed to international financial and monetary institutions’ the meddling in the national economy.

MP Raed Hijazin (Karak, 2nd District) accused the government of relying on citizens’ pockets to generate revenues, calling for finding alternative sources of revenue other than taxes and fines.

Speaking on behalf of the Reform bloc, Deputy Hazem Qashou (Citizenship list) said the current exceptional circumstances were not taken into consideration while drafting the 2016 budget, urging the government to pay more attention to social aspects.

The former municipal affairs minister also called for improving the housing, transportation and energy sectors, as well as giving all segments the chance to benefit from strategic energy projects.

The absence of creativity is a major reason behind Jordan’s economic problems, according to MP Hamdiyeh Qwaidar (Karak) who called on the government to act independently and not confine itself to restrictions imposed by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. 

She also called for increasing the salaries of civil and military personnel and “resurrecting” the middle class.

MP Mazen Dalaeen (Labour and Professionalism list) underscored the need to increase capital spending allocated in the 2016 budget law for Karak, some 140km south of Amman, and implement development projects in the governorate.

Deputy Raed Kouz (Amman, 2nd District) called for building a public university and hospital in east Amman, and urged the government to abandon economic reform programmes imposed from abroad. 

The 2016 budget law is “conventional and loose”, lacking genuine solutions to poverty and unemployment, argued MP Mustafa Yaghi (Balqa, 4th District).

Development gains should be distributed evenly, Deputy Samir Orabi (Zarqa, 1st District) said, proposing the establishment of an industrial zone in Zarqa Governorate, some 22km east of Amman.

Describing the government’s resorting to citizens’ pockets as “completely and absolutely wrong”, former House speaker Abdul Hadi Majali (National Current Party list) said “economic figures carrying no political implications lead to destructive consequences”.

Majali added that the 2016 state budget contains no “serious” policies to address unemployment, poverty and high living costs. 

Deputies Yousef Abu Hweidi (Zarqa, 1st District) and Sameh Majali (Karak, 2nd District) also criticised the bill for the same reason

Announcing his rejection of the draft law, MP Jamil Nimri (Irbid, 2nd District) urged the government to draft a comprehensive vision to improve the national economy and improve citizens’ living conditions.

MP Abdul Karim Darayseh (Irbid, 4th District) called for implementing infrastructure and development projects in Irbid’s Ramtha District, some 90km north of Amman. 

The House is scheduled to continue deliberations over the bill on Wednesday.