Inauguration of Jordanian parliament with a row between Islamists, Royalists
Jordan, Politics, 7/17/2003

The first session of the meetings of the Jordanian parliament convened in the framework of the non-ordinary session of the nation's council witnessed the first confrontation between the parliamentarians of Islamist inclination and the liberals on the ground of taking the constitutional oath, at a time when the parliament elected the independent parliamentarian, Saad Hayel as its chairman, who is close to the throne.

A row took place between parliamentarians of Islamist inclination at the parliament and the tribal members who support the government and control most of its seats. This was, however, after 17 Islamist parliamentarians were persistent during the constitutional taking oath ceremony to add the phrase "to be loyal to God and his prophet" to the text of the oath in which the parliamentarian vows to "be sincere to the king and to the homeland." A matter which raised a wave of criticism and protests by the Royalists.

The chairman of the Islamic Labor front Hamza Mansour said that the Islamists link their commitment to the ruler to the extent of the compliance of his deeds and words with the "legitimacy of God, and as far as he is careful for the interests of his people."

The Jordanian parliament elected its former Speaker, Saad Hayel Sorour, in the session which was attended by the 110 parliament members and transmitted live by the Jordanian TV. Sorour ( 56 year old) got 65 votes against 40 votes for his rival Abdul Hadi al-Majali,who is also close to the throne, while 5 voting cards were considered null.

Sorour, a former minister, assumed the post of speaker of parliament between 1996- 1998.

Previous Stories:
  Jordan confiscates Iraqi assets to secure Jordan's interest   (7/16/2003)
  Jordan Islamists for postponing elections; foiling plan to blow up American targets   (7/8/2003)
  Islamic Labor Front boycotts municipal elections in Jordan   (7/2/2003)

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