Press association calls on members to pay their annual fees ahead of polls

AMMAN — The Jordan Press Association (JPA) on Thursday said the door is open until April 17 for members to settle their annual fees to be eligible to take part in the JPA elections later this month.

“Those wishing to take part in the JPA elections to select the association’s president and council members have until the end of the working day on April 17 to pay the annual fees,” JPA Director Fakhri Abu Hamda told The Jordan Times.

Those wishing to run for the post of president or members of the council have until April 22 to register, he added, noting that several JPA members have so far showed interest in candidacy.

The elections will be held on April 25 to select the president and council members who will serve a three-year term, Abu Hamda added.

The association, which was established in 1953, has 1,070 members, according to the JPA director.

On Wednesday, the Lower House endorsed draft amendments to the JPA Law which stipulate certain new methods for electing members of the JPA council, under which the president’s deputy will be directly elected from the general assembly.

Previously, the person for this post was selected from members of the JPA council.

However, these amendments will not affect these polls as the bill must first go to the Senate to be discussed and approved before being sent to His Majesty King Abdullah for ratification, after which it will be published in the Official Gazette, when it will go into effect. 

The old version of the law will remain in effect and govern the polls, according to parliamentarians.

In Tuesday’s session, the Lower House defined the eligibility of any individual aspiring to become a member of the Jordan Press Association, limiting the journalism profession to holders of bachelor’s degrees.