King Abdullah of Jordan has dissolved the parliament which, under constitutional rules, means the government must resign within a week, paving the way for elections in November.
The King’s royal order to dissolve parliament was done in two parts with a Royal Decree issued on Sunday, dissolving the Lower House of Parliament and another Royal Decree issued that same Sunday, dissolving the Upper House. A third one appointing a new 65-strong Senate, to be headed again by former premier Faisal Al Fayez, was also issued.
Under Article 34 of the Constitution, the King of Jordan has the power to dissolve, convene, inaugurate, adjourn and prorogue Parliament. Also, per the provisions of the Constitution, the current government will have to resign within a week of the dissolution of the Lower House. The prime minister, during whose term the Parliament is dissolved, cannot form a new government.
Parliament Structure
The House of Representatives or the Lower House of Jordan comprises 130 seats – mainly pro-government tribal officials, businessmen and ex-security officials, of which 115 members are elected by an open list proportional representation from 23 constituencies of between three and nine seats in size and 15 seats reserved for women.
Nine of the 115 proportional representation seats are reserved for the Christian minority, with another three reserved for the Chechen and Circassian minorities. Parliament is however viewed as redundant, as constitutionally, most powers rest with the king, who appoints governments and approves the legislation.
Before the dissolution order, Jordan’s electoral commission had in July, set November 10 as the date for parliamentary elections after the monarch called for countrywide polls to be held at the end of parliament’s four-year term.
Opposition Defies Court Ban
Ahead of the polls, Jordan’s largest opposition party, the Islamic Action Front (IAF) announced that it will be participating in the parliamentary elections despite a July 15 decision by Jordan’s Court of Cassation dissolving the party over licensing issues.
The IAF, which holds 16 seats in the current legislature, said it had decided to take part in the vote regardless of the court’s ruling.
“The Islamist movement is being targeted and faces vigorous attempts to undermine it due to its national role and charitable efforts,” it said in a statement. “We believe our absence from parliament would be a withdrawal from this battle and a derogation of responsibility.”
