Strong Parliament a vital national interest — Ensour

AMMAN – A strong Parliament is a vital national interest because it has the ability to play its role in oversight and legislation, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said Wednesday.

During a visit to the Independent Elections Commission (IEC), the prime minister congratulated IEC President Khaled Kalaldeh and other commission members on the Royal trust, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Asserting the government's support for the IEC as an important democratic institution, Ensour said that when His Majesty King Abdullah lists Jordan's political achievements, he refers to the IEC as an independent, neutral and objective commission that runs election and ensures integrity.

The premier noted that the government has no role in the electoral process as the Constitution gives the IEC the sole authority to administer polls.

Election integrity is a red line, and the IEC has to manage the process ably and remove all the obstacles, Ensour added. 

Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani, Justice Minister Bassam Talhouni, Interior Minister Mazen Qadi and Political and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Yousef Shawarbeh accompanied the premier on the visit.

Established in implementation of the 2011 amendments to the Constitution, the IEC is tasked with the supervision and administration of all phases of parliamentary elections and other elections called for by the Cabinet.

The IEC takes all necessary measures to administer fair, impartial and transparent elections based on the principles of justice, equal opportunity and the rule of law.

The members of its new board of commissioners were sworn in early April.