Jordan launches electoral reform

AMMAN - The Jordan government said it has set up a committee tasked with overhauling the country’s electoral law in a bid to appease protesters calling for greater political choice.

The eight-member committee will hold talks with “trade unions, political parties, civil society organisations, independent politicians and retired army personnel”, said Jordan’s government spokesman Taher Adwan Thursday.

The panel, to be chaired by Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit, has been given between three and six months to come up with concrete proposals.

“The objective will be working out real reforms, including a modern election law that ensures the presence in parliament of strong parties,” he said.

The move came a day before another pro-reform demonstration was to be held after Friday prayers at the Grand Husseini Mosque in downtown Amman.

Jordan King Abdullah currently enjoys the power to choose prime ministers and cabinet members, and many complain that the country’s parliament does not enjoy enough power.

The king said earlier this week that he wanted to see political parties with clear majorities.