Amman — The race for the speakership of the House of Representatives has entered a new phase, with parliamentary blocs moving from discussing potential names to announcing nominations. Meanwhile, consultations are intensifying in an effort to reach agreements before the opening of the third ordinary session on November 2, amid questions over whether the blocs can secure broad consensus or proceed to an open electoral contest on the floor of the House.
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As of Monday, three names had emerged at the forefront of the race: MP Ibrahim Tarawneh, of the Mithaq Party, who is leading his party’s list of preferred candidates pending a final decision expected today; MP Mustafa Khasawneh, of the Mubadara Party, whose nomination was officially announced by the party’s parliamentary bloc; and MP Suleiman Al-Zaben, selected by the Centrist Parties Bloc as its candidate for the speakership.
The contest is therefore no longer limited to names circulating within parliamentary blocs. It now hinges on each candidate’s ability to broaden support beyond their own bloc.
The Mubadara Bloc announced Khasawneh as its candidate following a meeting chaired by the party’s secretary-general, Mohammad Abu Hudaib. It also decided to form a committee to negotiate and coordinate with other blocs regarding elections for the House’s permanent bureau.
Meanwhile, the Centrist Parties Bloc nominated MP Suleiman Al-Zaben and formed a negotiating committee headed by MP Mustafa Al-Amawi to consult with other blocs on the speakership, other permanent bureau positions and parliamentary committees.
As for the Mithaq Party, reports indicate that Tarawneh is leading its preferred candidates. The party’s MPs are scheduled to meet on Tuesday to decide who will represent it in the race. In this context, MP Majham Al-Saqour may sound out support to assess the possibility of his own candidacy.
These developments follow MP Ahmad Al-Safadi’s announcement that he does not wish to enter the race, prompting a reassessment of calculations within the party and opening the door to other names. However, a candidate leading a party’s list of preferences should be distinguished from one who has received a final, publicly announced nomination.
The Azm Party’s parliamentary bloc also held a meeting at which it decided to form a negotiating committee and nominated MP Ayman Abu Haniyeh for the position of first deputy speaker. The Umma Party’s bloc announced that it, too, had formed a committee to negotiate with other blocs.
The House of Representatives comprises five parliamentary blocs, in addition to seven independent MPs.
Leaks do not settle the speakership
Recent developments have revived debate over reports circulating in recent days suggesting that the speakership had already been decided. Those reports prompted reactions among MPs, particularly from those who argued that treating the outcome as settled before consultations are complete undermines the role parliamentary blocs are expected to play in shaping the decision.
This does not mean that discussing names or putting forward a particular candidate is unusual during an election. The distinction, however, lies between a candidate who is a leading choice within their own bloc and one who has secured a broader parliamentary agreement that guarantees support beyond it.
The speakership is not decided by the volume of media speculation or simply because a bloc announces one of its members as a candidate. It is determined through voting in accordance with constitutional procedures.
The re-emergence of three candidates shows that the path to consensus remains open, but no agreement has yet been reached. The official nominations of Khasawneh and Al-Zaben give Mithaq and the other blocs additional options, while any subsequent understanding will require clear negotiations. These could lead to support for a single candidate or leave the door open to competition.
Under the current circumstances, all options remain possible, including the emergence of a consensus candidate at the last minute.
Parliamentary blocs face a test of decision-making
Attention is now focused on the positions of Mithaq, Mubadara, the Centrist Parties Bloc, Azm, the Umma Party and independent MPs. These groups could play an important role in building shared understandings, but the names and sizes of the blocs do not automatically mean their members will agree on a single candidate.
Any talk of consensus among Mithaq, Mubadara and the Centrist Parties Bloc requires an announced position or clear outcomes from consultations, rather than conclusions drawn from meetings or leaked reports.
Parliamentary understandings will depend on whether the blocs decide to support a particular candidate and whether any agreement will cover only the speakership or extend to the first and second deputy speakers and parliamentary committees.
Meetings and contacts among the blocs are a normal part of preparations for the election, but they are not, on their own, proof that a final settlement has been reached.
The next step is for these efforts to translate into publicly announced positions, clarifying the shape of the contest and moving beyond predictions that shift with every new leak.
With the opening of the third ordinary session approaching, the blocs face both a political and a time-sensitive challenge. Delays in finalising positions leave more room for speculation and postpone the answer to the central question: Can the blocs agree on one candidate, or will differing calculations lead to a contested election?
Permanent bureau positions form part of the political negotiations
The calculations extend beyond the speakership to the positions of first and second deputy speaker, as well as the leadership of parliamentary committees.
Mubadara’s decision to establish a negotiating committee for the permanent bureau, along with the Centrist Parties Bloc’s formation of its own negotiating committee, indicates that consultations go beyond choosing the speaker and encompass a broader discussion about the distribution of positions within the House.
However, negotiations over these positions do not necessarily indicate that a complete deal has been reached or that a final distribution agreement is in place. Positions are still taking shape, and options may change depending on the course of the speakership contest and the outcome of contacts between the blocs.
Broader consultations could make consensus possible, but they also underline the need to distinguish between understandings intended to facilitate parliamentary work and arrangements that remain under discussion.
The standard should not be limited to the distribution of positions. It should also include the next permanent bureau’s ability to manage the House efficiently, organise its legislative and oversight work, and preserve the independence of parliamentary decision-making.
Will the decision be settled on the floor of the House?
The election comes as the House faces important legislative and oversight files, including the 2027 draft General Budget Law, amendments related to the Social Security Law, the Labour Law and other issues requiring extensive parliamentary debate.
Choosing the speaker and permanent bureau is therefore about more than competition for positions. It will also shape how the House is managed and what its priorities will be during the upcoming session.
In short, the race has become clearer in terms of the candidates, but remains open in terms of alliances and outcomes. Tarawneh, Khasawneh and Al-Zaben are at the forefront of the contest, while the blocs are testing their ability to turn consultations into collective decisions.
As the session’s opening approaches, the question will not simply be who occupies the speaker’s chair, but how the blocs handle this political milestone. Will they move from multiple nominations to an announced agreement, or leave the final decision to the ballot box?
The answer will become clear once official positions are finalised, with the vote on the floor of the House ultimately determining the outcome.
Source: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Jihad Al-Mansi
