King inaugurates Parliament’s third ordinary session today

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah will inaugurate the 17th Parliament's third ordinary session on Sunday with a Speech from the Throne.

Following his speech, the King, according to protocol, will receive deputies and senators in addition to members of the Cabinet.

After their meeting with His Majesty, the senators will constitutionally 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 bylaws.

Following the Senate meeting, the 149 MPs, one member shy after a heart attack claimed Deputy Eteiwi Majali's life, 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 bylaws were amended, the first meeting used to be chaired by the eldest deputy. Now the MP with the longest membership will preside over the first meeting.

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

A Royal Decree was issued in September proroguing Parliament's extraordinary session.

A second Royal Decree was issued delaying the summoning of Parliament to convene in an ordinary session until November 15.

Constitutionally, the ordinary session begins on October 1 or two months after.

The laws discussed during the extraordinary session were the draft law on the ratification of the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, the integrity and anti-corruption bill, the 2002 temporary law of the national committee for international and humanitarian law, and draft amendments to the (judicial) Execution Law.

Lawmakers also discussed the municipalities and the decentralisation bills.