His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday stressed that reforms are progressing as scheduled and in accordance with a plan guided by a well-defined agenda.
During a meeting yesterday with a group of young Jordanians from various sectors, King Abdullah said: “We are moving ahead with the reform process. There is nothing to fear. We believe that reform is the key to a better future for all Jordanians.”
The King said that the enactment of the municipalities and teachers association draft laws is an “advanced step in the reform process”, and noted that constitutional amendments proposed by a Royal committee will be referred to the government next week, to be endorsed through constitutional channels.
The Lower House is expected to meet for another extraordinary session next month dedicated to debating the changes.
The King said that he has already met with the chairman of the committee, Ahmad Lozi, who described the suggested constitutional amendments as “advanced and centred around boosting balance among the three branches of government and enhancing the role of Parliament”.
King Abdullah explained that the constitutional amendments will be endorsed along with the new elections and political parties laws. “Completing the reforms package will establish a legal basis to finally see elected parliamentary governments in the future,” the King said.
He also stressed the importance of arriving at a “consensus on an elections law that can achieve a better representation of all segments of the society and give rise to influential and effective political parties working according to practical and well defined platforms”.
King Abdullah said municipal elections will be held before the end of this year and that Jordanian youth will play an important role in electing their representatives.
He addressed the young audience as "a key partner in shaping political and social policies because you are the majority.”
The King described economic reform as a key ingredient of political reform, explaining that addressing the deficit in the state budget, reducing the public debt and facilitating the private sector to take part in the implementation of the Kingdom’s mega-projects are major priorities in the coming stage.
In this regard, King Abdullah stressed the importance of setting up a comprehensive programme for the development of governorates, pointing to the JD150 million fund he announced last week for this purpose during his visit to the city of Salt.
Meanwhile, he said Jordanians are equal in his estimation, regardless of their origin, ethnicity and political backgrounds. He said constructive criticism does not contradict an individual’s citizenship duties and loyalty.
“My responsibility is to protect all and enable them to express their views with utter freedom as partners in the making of the future,” he said.
For their part, the youths expressed their appreciation of the King’s reform efforts, which, they said, will contribute to improving the living conditions of Jordanians.
The meeting was attended by Royal Court Chief Khaled Karaki, His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi Ben Mohammad, the King’s adviser on tribal affairs, and King’s Media Adviser Amjad Adaileh.