Jordan is gearing up for the second round of the Speaker of Parliament election, but with an uncertain path forward due to a lack of quorum in the lower house.
Since the first round of election in late November, members of the Jordanian lower house still do not have enough numbers to form a quorum. Under Jordanian law, a quorum of two-thirds of the House must be present to vote. This lack of quorum has held back the election process, possibly for months.
The current Speaker, Atef Tarawneh, was the only candidate in the first round of voting, receiving only 46 of a possible 150 votes. He was re-nominated in December but that too was delayed due to the lack of quorum. A second round of voting is now scheduled for February 10th, though the requirements of quorum still stand.
The impediment of quorum in passing the Speaker election has the potential to set back the entire Jordanian legislative agenda, ushering in chaotic times in which the government is unable to pass laws or even conduct crucial debates. As such, the need for Parliament to reach a quorum is paramount.
The lack of quorum has pushed the Jordanian government to consider several measures to ensure the election can take place. These include extending Parliament’s term and holding the second round of voting at a different location.
A difficulty drawing a sufficient number of members to Parliament has been a long standing issue in Jordan, and it is vitally important that the Parliament reach a quorum in this election for the sake of the country’s legislative system. With a second round of voting slated for early February, the Jordanian people will have to wait and see if the necessary steps towards a successful election can be taken to ensure a legal and workable Parliament.