An unprecedented tranquility is prevailing in the political
circles in Jordan, and everyone seems to be moving, silently, in a vicious
cycle, dominated by anticipation and caution regarding many files. Perhaps the
reason for this is the fear that reaction on their part may increase the levels
of uncertainty in the public domain.
اضافة اعلان
I am certain that it has never happened before that any
official would hide behind closed doors, avoids appearances in public and
refrains from engagement in public affairs. Meanwhile, politicians and
observers are fishing for any tip that would help them understand what is going
on. Nobody has any information about what is going on around us. All we know is
that there are dozens of unanswered questions hanging in the air.
For a situation like this to persist in a country like
Jordan is totally unhealthy, due to the difficult economic, health, and social
situation, which is also affected by social media influencers, not to mention
the quagmire of political reform.
Add to this that we do realize that there are countries and
individuals who are jumping at every opportunity to tamper with the stability
of this country, which has over the decades overcome a multiplicity of
challenges and crises. We must believe that Jordan today is not the same as a
few years ago. Some are trying to push it back. This is the ugly reality that
cannot be beautified!
Where do we start? This is the question that the state must
find an answer to as soon as possible. There is almost a consensus that the
priority is for the political reform triangle, whose other two sides are the
election, parties, and local administration laws. This is in conjunction with
well-thought-out and feasible economic plans that are implemented in accordance
with a fixed timeframe.
In 2011,
His Majesty King Abdullah ordered conducting a
national dialogue on the political and economic reform in the country, and as a
result, intensive dialogues ensued with several political, social, and economic
actors. Within that context, the Cabinet decided to form a National Dialogue
Committee. This committee came out with recommendations that have not been
taken seriously until this moment. And after 10 years we are still talking
about an inclusive national dialogue on the same topic.
The Lower House has recently announced the launch of an
inclusive national dialogue with civil society institutions to work out a draft
of what the election and parties laws should look like, and how they can ensure
the highest level of national consensus on what is required in the next phase.
The dialogue launched by the House was not the first, and it
may not be the last, as we have become too familiar with the fact that every
newcomer to office customarily cancels the plans of those who preceded him, and
starts from scratch. They believe that their visions are the best, but why
should we start from the starting line again. Several committees have been
formed before and issued recommendations. Why not start from where others
ended?
In order to move forward quickly with political reform — the
perceived savior — it is necessary to look into the results of past discussions
and the recommendations of the previous committees. We can benefit from some,
or amend some, but it makes no sense to meet, after years of the National Dialogue,
with the same people from trade unions and politicians to listen to the same
views they presented 10 years ago.
The political will to carry out political reform is there,
and the King has affirmed it on more than one occasion, as being doable. The
King’s first Discussion Paper that he released in 2012 was titled “
Our Journey to Forge our Path Towards Democracy.” It provided a comprehensive vision and
all we need to decide is to determine when and how we start. The state of confusion the country is living
in is unhealthy and should not continue.
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