AMMAN - Lower House Speaker Abdul Karim Dughmi on Tuesday stressed that the legislature is working to "restore public confidence" in its performance through partnership and dialogue with civil society.
During a meeting with presidents of professional associations yesterday, he reiterated the need for cooperation between all authorities and civil society organisations to overcome the country's current political and economic difficulties.
His first deputy, Atef Tarawneh (Karak, 3rd District), added that the House wants to deal openly and constructively with civil society.
"The Lower House will engage in interactive relations with the professional associations, political parties and other civil society organisations," he said.
"We need to join hands and bring about the change that people desire," Dughmi said, calling on the professional association members to support Parliament in the coming months.
"We need your participation, advice and opinions on most of the draft laws," he told the association leaders.
"All messages from the street have reached their targets, and we should move quickly to meet the public's expectations," Tarawneh added.
Presidents of the professional associations welcomed the Lower House's overture, voicing hope that it will be the beginning of continuous cooperation.
However, they encouraged deputies to move faster in implementing the reform agenda and stand against any future attempt to undermine His Majesty King Abdullah's vision of reform. Jordan Press Association President Tareq Momani called on the deputies to maintain open channels with the press in order to ensure maximum transparency and avoid misleading people.
"It seems the Lower House is adopting a collective leadership approach for its activities," he said approvingly.
Jordan Medical Association President Ahmad Armouti encouraged the Lower House to expand its dialogue to include the popular protest movements and not limit it to established political powers.
On Monday, Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh told the presidents of the professional associations that the government will keep all channels open for cooperation and consultation with them and with other civil society organisations. He said transparent and fair elections are the key to reform and that securing them will be the job of the forthcoming independent electoral commission, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
During Monday's meeting, part of a series of meetings the government plans to hold with activists and NGOs, Khasawneh pointed out that his Cabinet is reform-oriented and will always be open to suggestions on the suggested electoral system.
The premier also underlined that the government cannot achieve the envisioned reform alone, calling on all political parties and NGOs to take part in the reform process.
"The door will be always open to all parties wishing to engage in serious dialogue with the government to find solutions to obstacles facing the Kingdom," Khasawneh noted.
The Constitution does not prevent the formation of a parliamentary government, the premier pointed out, citing as an example Suleiman Nabulsi's government in the 1950s, which was formed by a parliamentary majority.
In addition, the premier indicated that the government will move ahead with the salary restructuring plan devised by the former government for employees of state-owned institutions, noting that his ministerial team is reviewing the technical and legal details of the plan.
He added that the government will draft a law governing the envisioned constitutional court, underlining that the law will be equal to, if not better than, legislation governing similar courts in other countries.
The professional association presidents outlined their views on reforms during the meeting, which was also attended by several ministers.
© Jordan Times 2011
