Deputies want national interests first, urge more support to army

AMMAN — MPs continued their deliberations over the draft 2015 budget law for a third consecutive day on Tuesday, with politics infusing most of the remarks.

Some deputies called for additional support to the armed forces, while others called for more efforts to counter unemployment.

MP Wafaa Bani Mustafa (Jerash, 1st District), who took the podium on behalf of the House’s Mubadara group, urged the government to accelerate the political reform process, calling for drafting a law to enhance Jordanians’ and political parties’ engagement in political life.

She also urged the government to enhance the electoral process so it is based on programmes rather than regional and tribal considerations.

Deputy Abdul Karim Darayseh (Irbid, 4th District) underlined Jordan’s unaltered position on the Syrian crisis, which advocates a comprehensive solution that can safeguard Syria’s territorial unity and end the large-scale suffering of its people.

The Ramtha MP, however, said the country’s higher interests have to come “first and foremost” in the Kingdom’s handling of the Syrian crisis and its position on other regional issues.

Darayseh added that Jordan needs to put more pressure on the international community and all members of the US-led anti-Daesh coalition to increase assistance to the refugee-burdened Kingdom in its war on terror.

Citing the exceptional security challenges facing the region, several lawmakers called for supporting the army and other security agencies to enable them to perform their duties in protecting the country’s borders and its internal front.

In his address on behalf of the National Union bloc, MP Mohammad Khashman (National Union Party list) called for deducting 20 per cent from the independent public institutions’ budget for the army and other security bodies in addition to utilising the capabilities of the Royal Engineering Corps in implementing the remaining projects financed by the Gulf Cooperation Council grant.

Deputies Samir Orabi (Zarqa, 1st District), Krayem Awadat (Zarqa, 1st District) and Kheir Eddin Hakouz (Amman, 6th District) also called for supporting the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army.

MP Mohammad Thahrawi (Zarqa, 4th District) expressed dissatisfaction with the budget, saying that the government’s economic policies are not expected to solve unemployment and poverty. 

This year’s JD8.09 billion budget, referred to the Lower House in November 2014, features a slight expansion of 3.2 per cent in spending and an estimated deficit of JD688 million.

Thahrawi added that Jordanians are losing out to migrants in the job market, accusing the government of “failure” in the Governorates Development Fund.

Deputy Kholoud Khatatbeh (Ajloun) raised the same issues, describing unemployment as the country’s major problem. 

She also linked unemployment to the emigration of Jordanians and the high rates of crime.

For MP Adnan Farajat (Maan, 3rd District), the strict austerity measures employed by consecutive governments have weakened the economy’s ability to create jobs, which in turn has led to increasing unemployment rates.

Others MPs, including Deifallah Saeedin (Southern Badia) and Rudaina Ati (Zarqa) called on the government to implement job-creating projects in their regions and distribute development gains evenly.