Jordanian parliament gives confidence to al-Fayez government
The Jordanian parliament yesterday voted confidence for the new government chaired by Faisal al-Fayez. This was in conclusion of a Marathon session that continued for 4 days, during which he renewed commitment to the content of the royal message, especially fighting unemployment, poverty, and corruption and accelerating the operation of political development and openness to all social strata.
Al-Fayez ( 52 year old) got 85 votes which he was voted non- confidence by 22 parliamentarians, including the 17 parliamentarians of the Islamic movement in addition to several independents. Three Parliamentarians abstained from voting in the Ummah council ( parliament ) which includes 110 members.
Before the voting process, more than half of the parliament members made statements ranging between calling on the Jordanian woman to wear the veil, and expel the American soldiers from Iraq, to abrogating the peace treaty finalized by Jordan with Israel nine years ago.
Certain statements concentrated more on local issues, especially on demanding fighting poverty, unemployment, and corruption, while others included political slogans and demands to implement the Islamic Sharia.
Faisal al-Fayez whose government was formed by the end of October- enjoys positive relations with all parliamentary blocs and the independents. And on this ground, parliamentary sources expected the government of the third prime minister under King Abdullah reign to win confidence.
Worthy mentioning that al-Fayez had opened intensive contact channels with all trade unions, political and party forces, and created an atmosphere of communication, ending months of political unrest in the country.
According to the constitution, the government has to win the confidence of the parliament if it is held, just one month after its formation.
Since the foundation of modern Jordan 82 years ago, the parliament only once foiled the executive authority, when it vote non confidence for the government of Sameer al-Refai in 1963.