Debate begins over ‘keystone’ draft elections law

Deputies on Sunday began their deliberations over the 2012 draft elections law, voting down a proposal to allow Jordanian expatriates to take part in parliamentary elections. During Sunday’s Lower House session, a majority of MPs voted against a proposal presented by Deputy Mubarak Twal (Madaba, 1st District), to allow Jordanians living abroad to participate in future polls. Twal asked that the legislation’s definition of "eligible voter" be revisited so that it would apply to expatriates. Presenting their remarks on the draft law, some MPs also called for increasing the number of Lower House seats allocated for certain districts based on population density. Deputy Mejhem Abu Mdeires (Irbid, 7th District) said 80 MPs had signed a memorandum, requesting that the number of parliamentary seats designated for the Northern Jordan Valley, Koura, Ain Al Basha and Sahab districts be increased. "To achieve justice, the total number of Lower House seats should be raised to 150 and not 140 as proposed by the Legal Committee," Abu Mdeires said. "This is a highly politicised law and it is the keystone of reform," said Amman Deputy Mustafa Shneikat. "MPs should keep in mind that the fate of reform is solely based on the draft elections law." Last week, the Legal Committee presented its amendments to the bill, which was prepared by the government of former prime minister Awn Khasawneh, recommending a mixed electoral system with a majority vote at the governorate level and a closed proportional list at the national level. Under the panel’s amendments, each voter will be given two votes: one for a candidate at the district level and another for the closed proportional list, where political parties will compete for 17 seats at the national level. The panel approved the previous government’s proposal that 108 Lower House seats be contested at the governorate level in 45 constituencies in the Kingdom’s 12 governorates and the three badia regions. Some MPs told The Jordan Times on Sunday that deputies were divided into two camps when it came to their opinions on the draft law. One supports the panel's amendments to the legislation, while the other wants to give eligible voters a third vote at the governorate level and increase the number of seats allocated to the closed proportional list. The House is scheduled to continue its deliberations over the draft elections law during morning and afternoon sessions today. Also on Sunday, the House passed an amended version of the General Sales Tax Law which imposes special taxes on 12 luxury items, including perfumes, cosmetics, diamonds and other gemstones, musical instruments, mobile phones, pet food and leather garments. The House also referred the draft Islamic sukuk law to its Financial and Economic Committee with "emergency status".