Jordanian parliament will not limit king's powers

[News_Editor]

Jordanian parliament will not limit king's powers

2011-03-28 02:44:14 GMT+7 (ICT)

AMMAN, JORDAN (BNO NEWS) -- Jordan's lower house of parliament on Sunday rejected recent calls by the opposition to limit King Abdullah's constitutional powers as part of targeted political reforms.

"The house categorically rejects political blackmail and calls by some people for limiting the king's constitutional powers," the chamber said in a statement, as cited by Arab News.

"Such calls does not reflect the convictions of the Jordanian community and seeks to fragment the Jordanian state," it added.

Prominent opposition figures recently pressed for the annulment of amendments that were introduced into the 1952 constitution, which allows the king to appoint and dismiss prime ministers. They said the formation of governments should be decided by political parties gaining majorities through the ballot boxes.

The house said that political reforms should be decided through "constructive dialogue and not through the street," in a reference to the demonstrations that have taken place in the country for the past months.

Meanwhile, thousands of Jordanians on Sunday took part in the funeral of Khairi Jamil Saad, who died Friday during the violent attacks on protesters in the capital's Gamal Abdul Nasser Square, Ammon News reported.

Saad was protesting in support of the "March 24 Youth Movement," which is demanding political reforms, when he was allegedly beaten by police. Security sources, however, said he died of a stroke.

Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for the clashes and accused the group of creating chaos in the country.

After the incident, 16 members of the newly established National Dialogue Committee announced their resignation in protest of the violent attacks.

King Abdullah II approved a new 27-member cabinet early February after protesters called for the resignation of then-current prime minister Samir Rifai and his government. The previous government was blamed for price hikes, excessive taxation, unemployment, and difficult economic conditions.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-28