Jordan King Unveils Constitutional Reform Proposals
King Abdullah II on Sunday said a panel he named earlier this year has recommended the creation of a constitutional court as a key step to achieve social and political reforms in Jordan.
Proposals made by the Royal Committee on Constitutional Review are "solid proof of Jordan's ability to revitalize itself and its legislation and approach the future with a vision of social and political reform," the king said.
He tasked the committee in April with drawing up recommendations to push for social and political reform amid streets protests calling for change in the country, after Arab uprisings unseated veteran leaders in Tunisia and Egypt and shook other countries in the region.
"One of the major proposals is the establishment of a constitutional court to rule on the constitutionality of legislation and consolidate the judiciary's role as the authority that safeguards the constitutionality of legislation," the king told statesmen and journalists at an iftar meal to break the Ramadan fast, a palace statement said.
He said the panel suggested lowering the age of candidates for parliament from 35 to 25 in a bid to appeal to Jordan's youths who represent 70 percent of the country's population of more than six million.
"To reinforce the role of youth in public and parliamentary life, the minimum age of candidacy for the Lower House has been lowered to 25 years," the king said.
Inspired by their peers in Egypt and Tunisia, Jordanian youths have joined the Islamist opposition and other groups in the kingdom in demanding economic and political reforms including a new electoral law and an elected prime minister.
An independent commission to oversee parliamentary elections has been recommended, "while vesting in the judiciary the exclusive authority to look into electoral contestations and the trial of ministers."
The recommendations are likely to empower parliament and enhance separation of powers, but the king can still appoint prime ministers.
In line with the proposals, "the dissolution of the lower house is tied to the immediate resignation of the government," the king said.
"We hope to institutionalize citizen activism and effective public participation in the legislative process as well as the formation of governments."
The king said governments can no longer issue temporary laws except in times of war and natural catastrophe and in cases of financial expenditure that cannot be postponed.
Also, the jurisdiction of the military state security court, accused by activists of being illegal, should be limited to cases of high treason, espionage and terrorism.
"Amending the constitution will proceed in accordance with the appropriate constitutional processes and within a timeframe we hope would not exceed one month," the king said.
"We assert that the roadmap of political reform will be achieved within a timeframe that observes institutional processes and the existing constitutional channels, and no later than the fourth quarter of this year."
The powerful Islamist opposition has urged the king to instigate changes similar to measures taken by his Moroccan counterpart, who has announced comprehensive reforms including greater independence for the judiciary, enhanced powers for the premier and the separation of powers.
In May, Jeffrey Feltman, U.S. assistant secretary of state, said during a visit to key ally Jordan that Washington was pushing governments in the Middle East to meet pressing demands for reform and to realize that the "climate has changed."
"We are telling the governments your people are talking. Meet their demands and aspirations. The responsibility of governments and leaders is to address the challenges in their countries," said Feltman.
Source: Agence France Presse
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