Senate endorses changes to Constitution

AMMAN (JT) – The Senate on Wednesday endorsed the proposed constitutional amendments as referred from the Lower House.

Two-thirds of the senators voted for approving all 41 suggested changes to the Constitution as referred from the Chamber of Deputies with only one dispute arising over deputies’ amendments to articles 70 and 74 which was resolved during yesterday’s evening session.

According to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, a revote was conducted over Article 70 of the Constitution as some senators insisted on the government’s amendments to the said article but it failed to gain the two-thirds majority.

Under the deputies’ amendments to Article 70, Lower House hopefuls must be at least 30 years old instead of 25 as the government recommended.

In addition, there was some disagreement among senators on the Lower House’s amendments to Article 74 of the Constitution, which was also resolved in the vote.

The said article, as proposed by deputies and approved by senators, stipulates: “If the Chamber of Deputies is dissolved for any reason, the new Chamber shall not be dissolved for the same reason. The prime minister should resign within one week and cannot be designated to form a new government if the Lower House is dissolved during the first term of his/her premiership.” The same article also stipulates that any minister wishing to run the parliamentary elections should resign at least 60 days before the polls begin.

Earlier this week, the Lower House endorsed, after making some changes, the proposed constitutional amendments following 18 extensive morning and afternoon sessions, which lasted for nine days.

Having been endorsed by the two Houses of Parliament, the proposed amendments will be forwarded to His Majesty King Abdullah and then published in the Official Gazette to go into effect.

jordantimes