King to inaugurate 19th Parliament’s extraordinary session Thursday

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah is scheduled to inaugurate the 19th Parliament's extraordinary session and deliver the Speech from the Throne on Thursday.

This year’s session is held amidst precautionary measures put in place to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, such as limiting attendance to the inauguration to members of the Senate and Lower House as well as the government, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Attendees are also required to observe physical distancing, where MPs will be seated under the Dome and senators and ministers will sit on the balconies wearing face masks. 

The Lower House and the Senate, separately, are required to respond to the Speech from the Throne within two weeks of the inaugural session.

Following His Majesty’s speech, the senators, as stipulated in the Constitution, will hold their first meeting, presided over by newly appointed Senate President Faisal Fayez, to form a committee to draft their response to the Speech from the Throne in accordance with the Upper House’s by-laws.

Following the Senate meeting, the 130 MPs will meet in a separate session to elect the Lower House speaker as well as members of the permanent office, including deputy speakers.

Before the Lower House by-laws were amended, the first meeting used to be chaired by the eldest deputy. Now the longest-serving MP will preside over the first meeting.

After electing the speaker, the MPs will form a committee to respond to the Speech from the Throne, before electing members for the Lower House committees.