JORDAN – King approves electoral amended law

THE amendments to the 2012 Elections Law, enacted by the two chambers of parliament, were recently approved, according to Jordan news agency, Petra.

 

The Lower House and the Senate passed the overall legislation first, approving a mixed electoral system that features a majority vote at the district level and a closed proportional list at the national level, which are open to all citizens and political parties.

 

A Royal Decree was then issued, approving the key reform-oriented law as endorsed by lawmakers but His Majesty King Abdullah, called for taking the necessary measures to amend some articles in the law in coordination with the legislative authority, particularly in relation to the national list, which is “a cornerstone for developing partisan life”.

 

Instructed by the Monarch, the government then sent an amended version of the legislation to Parliament, raising the number

of House seats allocated for the national list to 27.

 

The endorsement of the law was required to enable the Independent Elections Commission, formed recently to carry out its duties in ensuring that the elections are held by the end of this year according to the amended law.

 

Deputies and senators approved the government’s amendments to Paragraph C of Article 8 respectively, under which the number of seats allocated for the closed proportional list at the national level was raised to 27 instead of 17 as stipulated in a previous version.

 

Under Article 8 of the law, each voter will be given two votes: one for a candidate at the district level and another for a closed proportional list that will compete for 27 seats at the national level.