His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday summoned Parliament for an extraordinary session at the start of next month to amend the Elections Law to raise the number of seats allocated for the national list.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh, Senate President Taher Masri and Lower House Speaker Abdul Karim Dughmi, King Abdullah called for taking the necessary measures to amend some articles in the law in coordination with the legislative authority, particularly in relation to the national list, which is “a cornerstone for developing partisan life”.

Parliament last week approved allocating 17 seats for the national list in the 140-member House.

At the meeting on Thursday, the King underlined that the comprehensive reform process, which entailed amending almost one-third of the country’s Constitution, is irreversible and will continue with the aim of developing political life and paving the way for Jordan to move to a new stage on the path of modernisation and development.

His Majesty highlighted that achievements made by enacting laws to enhance political life would remain “theoretical”, unless they lead to holding early free and transparent parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, a Royal Decree was issued on Thursday approving the 2012 Elections Law as enacted by the two Chambers of Parliament.

The endorsement of the law is required to enable the recently formed Independent Elections Commission to carry out its duties in ensuring that the elections are held by the end of this year according to the amended law.