King says reforms progressing according to schedule

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah has stressed that the process of comprehensive reform in the Kingdom is progressing according to a clear roadmap, achieving a well thought out and continuous advancement.

The King, during a meeting in Al Husseiniya Palace on Sunday with the head and members of Annahda (renaissance) parliamentary bloc, stated that the deepening of citizens’ participation in the decision-making process is a key reform priority. 

During the meeting, which is part of a series of framework encounters with the members of the Lower House and parliamentary blocs, His Majesty stressed the importance of having effective platform-based parliamentary blocs that are able to “provide visions on how to build the present and the future” which would help the executive branch in both the drawing up of policies and the identification of priority development projects.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and King’s Office Director Imad Fakhoury were present at the meeting, during which the Monarch underlined the importance of the partnership between the legislative and executive powers as they address the various challenges the Kingdom faces.

His Majesty explained that the challenges at hand require efforts where the legislature, state agencies and civil society are engaged. 

The King also reviewed ideas on ways to activate the decentralisation plan in the governorates, in a manner that entrenches public participation in the decision- and policy-making process concerned with local community development. 

During the meeting they also discussed various issues of concern to the public, focusing mainly on economic conditions. They also went over ways to mitigate the problem of poverty and unemployment in the Kingdom, along with prospects to improve the tourism, cultural, agricultural and municipal sectors. Regional developments, with focus on the Mideast peace process and the Syrian crisis, were on the meeting’s agenda. 

In turn, bloc members expressed their appreciation of the King for keeping the channels of communication open with the three authorities.

They proposed ideas to improve parliamentary work and highlighted the importance of reinforcing the internal front.

The MPs highly lauded the recent Royal letter, instructing the government to develop a clear future vision for the Jordanian economy in the next 10 years.

They also praised the findings of the report compiled by the committee tasked with assessing the privatisation process.

They also appreciated the positions the King voiced in his recent speeches and press interviews, reasserting the fundamentals of Jordan’s moderate foreign policy.

For his part, Ensour expressed at the end of the meeting the government’s appreciation for all the remarks made by the bloc’s president and members, stressing that the government will take all comments into account in future plans and projects. 

The 22-strong Annahda bloc is chaired by MP Amjad Majali.