Ensour says MPs not responsible for electricity price hikes
AMMAN -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour told deputies on Tuesday that the lifting of electricity subsidies is purely a government decision and that they will not be held accountable for it.
During Tuesday's Lower House session, Ensour responded to deputies' remarks that the government was forging ahead with the gradual increase of electricity prices without considering the alternatives suggested by MPs.
"The Lower House attempted to prevent the government from taking such a decision by providing alternatives. As a result, the government is the only party responsible for the lifting of subsidies," Ensour told deputies.
The premier said there would be no increase in electricity prices on households with bills less than JD50, but stressed that any household bill exceeding JD50 will see a gradual 15 per cent increase in 2014.
During the session, the Lower House endorsed the temporary 2013 state budget law and the budgets of independent public institutions, despite the session being marred by chaos and an unorganised voting process.
The session witnessed protests and dissatisfaction by tens of deputies who described the voting process over these bills as "chaotic", accusing Lower House Speaker Saad Hayel Srour of attempting to influence the voting process.
Over 35 deputies left the session in protest against the disorder and the confusion during the voting on the budget law.
However, 68 deputies voted in favour of the temporary budget law out of the attending 86, and, in later stages 55 deputies, out of 83, voted for the endorsement of the National Electric Power Company's (NEPCO) budget, under the temporary law for independent public institutions' budget.
Seventy-four deputies signed a memorandum criticising the chaotic voting process and claiming the vote on NEPCO's budget was "rigged".
Deputy Mahmoud Kharabsheh (Balqa, 1st District) told the MPs that passing this aspect of the bill meant they were giving "their implicit approval for increasing electricity prices".
Srour ordered a revote on the law after Deputy Nassar Qaisi (Amman, 6th District) called for it.
The speaker suggested that the revote be cast without the electronic voting system to avoid manipulation.
The attendance declined significantly during the session, with most of the deputies leaving during the voting process. The session almost lost quorum at a certain point, with only 78 MPs out of the 150-strong House present under the Dome.
When this occurred, the House voted over the independent public institutions budget bill, with 66 voting "yea" against only 12 voting "nay".
The Lower House started deliberations over these laws last week, holding lengthy sessions to speed up their endorsement.
© Jordan Times 2013
