Jordan King Says Reform to Lead to Parliamentary Government
Jordan's King Abdullah II said on Wednesday that Arab uprisings had emphasized the need for political reform in the kingdom which would eventually lead to a system of parliamentary government.
"The sensitive regional circumstances and the transformations ... compel us to assert our firm conviction that public participation ... and unwavering commitment to reform are the only way forward," the king said as he opened parliament's second ordinary session.
"Our priority today is political reform."
The king said Jordan needs to build the "legislative foundations, on which political life can develop," including new election and political parties laws, an independent commission to oversee polls and a constitutional court.
"All these steps will bring us closer to the ultimate goal of parliamentary government," he added.
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with an appointed government. The king, who is the chief executive and the supreme leader of the armed forces, exercises his authority through prime ministers and council of ministers or cabinet, in line with the constitution.
"Until the political party system matures and can play its rightful role in parliament, we need to adopt an inclusive consultative approach to government formation..." the king said.
This, he added, should help citizens "trust that, through their elected representatives, they are truly participating in the process of forming governments, monitoring them, and holding them accountable."
The Jordanian monarch last week pushed ahead with his reform drive, appointing an International Court of Justice judge as prime minister as well as a new intelligence chief and royal court chief.
In August, the king spoke of a "tsunami" of change in top state posts to boost his reform plans, after protests in Jordan since January to demand political and economic reforms and an end to corruption.
Source: Agence France Presse
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