Jordanian elections law amended; six parliamentary seats for women

The Jordanian King Abdullah II has ratified an amended law for the elections law of the Jordanian parliament, according to which, six women members will be added to women's share in the parliament which are expected to be elected later this year.

According to this amendment, the number of seats at the Jordanian parliament, including those for women, is 110.

However, an amended law approved in 2002 on the elections circles increased the number of the parliamentary seats from 80 to 104 seats while number of al-Ayan council ( upper house ), appointed by the king remain 50 members.

The new amendment included the mechanism in which the number of women who will get the extra seats was defined.

The Jordanian minister of state for political affairs and acting minister of information and the interior Muhammad al-Edwan said that increasing women's share at the parliament is to enhance equality between man and woman.

Al-Edwan expressed his hope that this law will be an impetus for the women sector to be able to play their active political role side by side with man in building up the country.

Worthy mentioning that woman in Jordan occupied a considerable part in the political, social and cultural life. Besides the four women members at the Jordanian upper house, every Jordanian government and since several years has recruited women. There are many women who have the post of a ministry's secretary general or at the top of public establishments.