MP absences up as House holds 38 sessions in 60 working days — monitor

AMMAN — MPs submitted a total of 694 questions to the government during the Lower House’s second year, of which 92 per cent were answered, according to a watchdog’s recent report.

In its report on the performance of the House between November 12, 2017 and October 13, 2018, Rased, the Civil Coalition for Monitoring Elections and the Performance of Elected Councils, said that the Chamber held 38 sessions on 60 working days during which a total of 42 laws were endorsed.

Between November 12, 2017 and October 13, 2018, deputies submitted 12 queries on various issues to the government, which answered 42 per cent of them, Rased said.

According to Rased, 1,257 absences from sessions were registered in the second year of the House’s term.

MP Mohammad Nouh Qudah was the number-one absentee, attending only six out of 38 sessions, followed by deputies Adnan Ruqiabat and Haya Qaralleh who attended 10 and 14 sessions respectively, Rased said. 

MP Ibrahim Abul Sayyed was absent for only one session, followed by his colleagues Ibrahim Bdour, Mousa Hantash and Huda Otoum who missed two sessions each.

A copy of the report, which was received by The Jordan Times, says 19 questions were listed on the agenda twice due either to the absence of the respondent offical or sessions’ end.

A total of four questions were not discussed at all due to the absence of the relevant deputy.

A total of 86 questions were listed on the agenda of the House, 74 of which were discussed, the report said, adding that 58 per cent of the total questions were directed to the prime minister.

MPs submitted 102 memoranda, 65 that were presented by MP groups, 30 by committees, five by individual MPs and two by blocs.

The report also said that the House’s legal, financial, Palestine, economy and health committees were the most active panels in the Lower Chamber’s second year.