Parliament issues

Many Jordanian political and legal analysts are engaged in heated dialogue over the future of the current, 17th, Parliament.

Some say it should be allowed to continue, while others ask for its immediate dissolution.

On March 10, His Majesty the King ratified the 2016 amended Elections Law. It is deemed effective immediately after its publication in the Official Gazette, on March 16.

Before it was sent up to the King, the law had undergone a minor amendment by the Senate, which introduced a text which allows old by-laws to be in effect in case a parliamentary seat is vacated by death, resignation or sacking.

The newly ratified law allows a nominee who had got the next highest number of votes to replace the outgoing member. 

Since elections may not take place until late summer, at the earliest, in case of need, a replacement is done according to a by-election process stipulated in the 2012 law.

This amendment was introduced under the assumption that the existing Parliament continues working.

Some legal experts say it should not. Once the new law is published and becomes effective, Parliament should be dissolved.

If this interpretation is adopted, the next question will be: Is a Royal Decree needed to dissolve it or would it be dissolved automatically?

Should it need a decree, the Cabinet has to resign, which is the more likely scenario in this case.

However, some analysts and members of Parliament cling to the argument that Parliament can continue functioning until its constitutional term is over. They say that the Constitution states that the duration of the Parliament is four solar calendar years.

Another question is whether the number of seats in both Houses should remain as is now.

For the first time, a new elections law decreases the numbers of seats in the Lower House from 150 to 130. 

Can the legislative body continue with its current numbers against the stipulations of the 2016 law?

No matter what arguments are brought forth to support the dissolution of the Parliament, the positions taken generally reflect the hidden desires of its proponents.

I am sure the issue will continue to be debated until His Majesty, the ultimate objective arbiter, decides which direction to take in line with the national strategic interest.

The writer, a former Royal Court chief and deputy prime minister, is a member of Senate. He contributed this article to The Jordan Times.