Abul Ragheb government wins confidence; new parties law drafted
Jordan, Politics, 8/15/2003

The Jordanian parliament yesterday vowed confidence in the government of the prime minister Ali Abul Ragheb with majority vote of 84 against 23 parliamentarians who voted no confidence and one abstainee, at a time when Abul Ragheb strongly criticized the Islamic parliamentarians, denouncing "calls for freedom and democracy, and stressing "challenging for all those who try to violate the law."

Some 109 Jordanian parliamentarians ( one was absent from attending the session) took part in the final session to discuss the ministerial statement of Abul Ragheb government's program, in a lengthy session started since early morning and transmitted live by the Jordanian TV.

During the session the speaker of the parliament did not cast his vote and other 23 parliamentarians opposed giving confidence to the government.

Despite the fact that the speech of the chairman of the Muslim brothers parliamentarian bloc ( 17 parliamentarians) Azzam al-Huneidi seemed to be moderate and described by the local press at "traditional," however, two members of the bloc Muhammad Abu Fares and Ali al-Attoum strongly criticized the prime minister to the extent of accusing him of violating Islam.

Abul Ragheb replied in a speech he delivered in conclusion of the parliamentary discussions to criticism addressed to his government, describing the accusations against him as "false and baseless." He questioned "Is it Islam morals to accuse people randomly and is it the right of anyone to monopolize Islam." Abul Ragheb also criticized "calls for freedom and democracy" in speeches of certain parliamentarians. He added "Party activity is being made under the ceiling of the constitution which is the base on which the Islamic action front party was established. Is it needed to permit the violation of the constitution in order to please a certain group."

He stressed "the vocational role of trade unions, apart from politics." Abul Ragheb also stressed that "no one is above the law and this will never be so, and we will challenge everyone who tries to violate the law."

He criticized the performance of the political parties in the country saying that he is preparing for a new parties law and denounced those "who are instructed from beyond the borders." Replying to accusations on the slow move towards releasing some 300 Jordanians inside the Israeli jails since several years, Abul Ragheb stressed that the efforts of his government resulted in releasing 54 of them, noting continued efforts to release others.

Previous Stories:
  Women before Jordanian parliament in protest over rejection of forced divorce, honor killing laws   (8/11/2003)
  Jordan refuses to link the attack to receiving Saddam's two daughters   (8/8/2003)
  Some 27 Jordanian parliamentarians loom to vote no confidence for his government; Abu al-Ragheb: we are committed to Iraq   (8/7/2003)

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