Controversy in Jordan’s Parliament over Constitutional Amendments Expanding King’s Powers

King of Jordan Abdullah II addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, January 15, 2020. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler/File Photo
King of Jordan Abdullah II addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, January 15, 2020. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler/File Photo
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Controversy in Jordan’s Parliament over Constitutional Amendments Expanding King’s Powers

King of Jordan Abdullah II addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, January 15, 2020. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler/File Photo
King of Jordan Abdullah II addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, January 15, 2020. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler/File Photo

Jordan’s Parliament witnessed a heated debate on Monday while holding the first session for reviewing proposed constitutional reforms submitted by the government last week. The reforms had already triggered widespread responses on social media and among political elites.

At the start of Monday’s session, which King Abdullah launched its activities last week, Jordanian deputies referred the draft constitutional amendment to the Legal Committee before electing its members, triggering far-reaching criticism.

Lawmakers criticized amendments to about 30 articles in the constitution, the most prominent of which was linked to expanding the monarch’s powers through forming a National Security Council.

Prominent deputies criticized the accountability and oversight mechanism of a council headed by the king and comprising the prime minister, the army chief, the directors of the security services, the ministers of foreign affairs and the interior, and two members appointed by the king.

They argued that the move creates a political body parallel to the legislative and executive powers in the country.

While Parliament Speaker Abdulkarim Dughmi tried to refer the draft amendment to the Legal Committee to prevent parliamentary interventions, deputies demanded more discussions.

In the face of the government’s referral of the draft constitutional amendment and granting it “urgency and priority,” the deputies chose to talk about the parties and elections bills.

They warned against tampering with the map of electoral districts at the expense of confiscating the rights of voter representation in extended geographical areas that may prejudice demographic equations due to merging electoral districts with high population densities.

For his part, Prime Minister Bisher al Khasawneh rejected accusations against the government on “overturning the constitution” or compromising the “objective unity” of the Jordanian constitution, which stipulates “the principle of associated authority and responsibility when it comes to the work of institutions.”



UN: Lifelines Keeping People Alive in Gaza Are Collapsing

21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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UN: Lifelines Keeping People Alive in Gaza Are Collapsing

21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
21 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Gaza: Mourners pray near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is appalled by an accelerating breakdown of humanitarian conditions in Gaza "where the last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing," his spokesperson said on Monday.

"He deplores the growing reports of children and adults suffering from malnutrition," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

"Israel has the obligation to allow and facilitate by all the means at its disposal the humanitarian relief provided by the United Nations and by other humanitarian organizations."

Israeli ground troops for the first time Monday pushed into areas of a central Gaza city where several aid groups are based, in what appeared to be the latest effort to carve up the Palestinian territory with military corridors.

Deir al-Balah is the only Gaza city that has not seen major ground operations or suffered widespread devastation in 21 months of war, leading to speculation that the Hamas militant group holds large numbers of hostages there. The main group representing hostages’ families said it was “shocked and alarmed” by the incursion, which was confirmed by an Israeli military official, and demanded answers from Israeli leaders.

Israel says the seizure of territory in Gaza is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages, but it is a major point of contention in ongoing ceasefire talks.

The UN food agency, meanwhile, accused Israeli forces of firing on a crowd of Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid over the weekend. Gaza's Health Ministry called it one of the deadliest attacks on aid-seekers in the war that has driven the territory to the brink of famine.