LOWER HOUSE ENDORSES REFORM OF POLITICAL PARTIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001183

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KMCC KISL JO
SUBJECT: LOWER HOUSE ENDORSES REFORM OF POLITICAL PARTIES
LAW

REF: A. AMMAN 1022

B. 06 AMMAN 8908

C. AMMAN 528

D. 06 AMMAN 5945

Classified By: Classified By: Ambassador David Hale, Reasons 1.4 (B) &
(D)


1. (SBU) The Chamber of Deputies endorsed the government's
bill to reform the political parties law with little
substantive amendment. We expect the appointed upper house
to endorse the bill quickly. The bill will simplify
registration procedures for new parties and provide a
mechanism for some government funding of parties in the
future if the government follows up with implementing
regulations (ref A).


2. (C) Some political party leaders have criticized the
government's bill, saying it does not do enough to promote
the role of parties in Jordanian politics, and that by
requiring parties to have at least 500 members, the bill will
force some of Jordan's 33 boutique-sized registered parties
to close down. Head of the Al-Resalah (Message) Party Dr.
Hazem Qashou told poloff he expects as many as two thirds of
Jordan's 33 parties will have to close or join with another.
COMMENT: With the notable exception of the Islamic Action
Front, most political parties in Jordan are little more than
dinner clubs and have little to no impact on the political
process. If some of these close it may marginally strengthen
those that remain. The King's objective is to encourage
moderates to unite behind a single, national party better
positioned to compete against the Islamists. END COMMENT.


3. (C) With two weeks left in the current session,
parliamentary leadership is making a concerted effort to
address the four political reforms highlighted by the king at
the opening of parliament - bills on municipal government,
political parties, press and publications, and freedom of
information (ref B). Barring unforeseen delays the Senate
is expected to discuss the political parties and the press
and publications bills before the end of the month.
Meanwhile members of both houses are working behind the
scenes to iron out their differences over the municipal
government reform bill. The key difference in the versions
endorsed by each house addresses who would appoint the
professional municipal manager who will serve alongside each
mayor (ref C). Finally, MP Abdullah Al Jazi told poloff the
freedom of information bill would be debated soon in the full
lower house.


4. (SBU) Comment: If Parliament is successful in completing
debate on most of these bills it will be a step forward in
fulfilling the political reform vision laid out by the palace
at the "We are all Jordan" national unity conference in July
2006 (ref D). END COMMENT.

Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/
Hale