(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Speaking in a televised address to the nation on Sunday, King Abdullah said he backed a new electoral law proposed by a government-appointed panel that would allow for a cabinet to be elected by a parliamentary majority rather than being selected by him.
"We hope these recommendations ensure a modern electoral law that leads to a parliament that is representative of all Jordanians," he said in an address marking the 12th anniversary of his despotic rule.
Last week, the government put forward proposals that apparently ensure dominance of rural and tribal areas over large cities, including the capital Amman, which are considered the opposition strongholds.
However, the Jordanian opposition has expressed disappointment over the “limited nature” of the reforms that came after weeks of street protests in Jordan earlier this year, calling for political changes.
Major opposition groups in Jordan accuse government authorities of resisting changes, saying political freedoms in the country have been eroded in recent years.
The Jordanian king has been facing broad pressures to institute reforms and relinquish his extensive powers, which include appointing cabinet ministers and dissolving the parliament at will.
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