Gov’t wins record vote of confidence

By Raed Omari

AMMAN - The government of Prime Minister Samir Rifai on Thursday won Lower House’s confidence after garnering a record 111 yes votes.

Out of the House’s 119 lawmakers, eight deputies voted “nay”. One deputy, Rashid Odeh Barayseh (Amman, First District), passed away on Wednesday.

With this unprecedented vote of confidence, reaching 93.2 per cent of the total number of deputies present, Rifai’s government registered a record in the vote of confidence in the Kingdom’s history, surpassing Nader Dahabi’s government that gained 88.2 per cent of the House’s vote of confidence in 2007.

Addressing the House ahead of the vote, which capped five days of speeches by more than 85 deputies, Rifai reiterated his government’s commitment to carrying out the political, economic and administrative reform programmes outlined in the King’s Letter of Designation, considered as an action plan, with a set timetable for implementation.

The premier also reiterated that his government will move ahead with “total” coordination and cooperation with Parliament and in “transparent, well-defined and measurable programmes, coupled with fixed time frames”.

Pointing out that the envisioned process of revival has gone through ups and downs due to some “personal interests” and “the fear of change”, Rifai indicated that the government has a strong will to bring about the sought-after reform.

He also underlined that the government does not have a “magic wand” and does not promise what it cannot deliver, pointing out that the government will be “objective” and “realistic” in handling the challenges facing the country in partnership with the legislative authority.

Rifai summed up the challenges hindering future work as imbalances in distributing development gains, wasta (obtaining illegal gains through influential connections and favouritism), unemployment among youths, violence within the community, violation of the law and sabotaging public assets, budget deficit, water shortage and challenges pertaining to education, the environment and quality of services offered to citizens.

The premier also said that the government will refer to the House its 2011-2013 development programme, which contains well-defined and fully detailed plans to achieve the envisioned reforms.

On political reform, Rifai indicated that the Elections Law is now “in the hands of deputies” who are entitled to do all the necessary amendments that ensure active public and political parties participation in the decision-making process “in line with the Constitution and national constants”.

The premier indicated that the government is committed to improving the conduct of an “independent, professional and impartial” media and renewing its commitment to the codes of conduct and ethics regulating its relationship with the press.

In addition, Rifai indicated that the government will work on engaging citizens in the development process, saying that it will refer the Decentralisation Law to the Parliament to be thoroughly discussed under the Dome.

Also, the premier said that the government will work relentlessly on curbing corruption, and will enhance the role of public institutions tasked with combating corruption.

“The government will apply strict legal measures against violations to the law, assaults on properties and all attempts threatening national integrity,” Rifai said.

On the government’s support of education, Rifai said that it allocated JD900 million in the 2011 state budget to build new schools and improve educational programmes.

The premier also announced that his government will continue with a plan to raise public school teachers’ salaries by 100 per cent, to be disbursed gradually by 10 per cent annually until 2012.

Rifai said the salary increase is part of a package of incentives for teachers that also includes scholarships for them and their children and housing loans.

Outlining the government’s plans to support low- and medium-income families, Rifai pointed out that authorities will expand the social security umbrella and will support the small- and medium-sized income-generating projects.

“The government will impose no new taxes and will not take any economic decisions without consulting the House,” Rifai said.

The premier also reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) and other security bodies, highlighting in this regard the humanitarian role of JAF in UN peacekeeping missions.

On foreign policy, Rifai indicated that the Cabinet will exert all efforts to help the “brotherly” Palestinians establish their independent state on their national soil, pointing out that the entire region will not enjoy peace, stability and prosperity without a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Responding to some lawmakers’ remarks on the number of ministers in the current Cabinet, Rifai said that the 31 ministers add no “burdens” on the state budget, but will “enrich” the work, renewing the government’s abidance by the code of conduct that ministers signed when they were appointed to their posts.

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