Ammon News -
AMMONNEWS - The Lower House on Saturday approved proposed constitutional amendments as the legislature wrapped up a marathon debate whose outcome will give the government a major boost in its bid to accelerate political, socio-economic and administrative reforms in the Kingdom.

The House, meeting under Speaker Faisal Fayez in the attendance of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit, passed by voice vote the 41 amendments proposed by the Royal Commission on Constitutional Review with 98 lawmakers voting for the changes.

At the outset of today's morning session, MPs reexamined some of the articles endorsed in earlier days, including a chapter on dissolving parliament, before voting on them and the rest of proposed changes.

Head of the House Legal Committee Abdul Karim Dughmi told Petra that the amendments had brought a balance between authorities, adding that under the constitutional provisions, the House can bring down a government or deny it confidence without giving its reasons.

Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit told lawmakers that his government is serious about a public sector restructuring process and merger of independent institutions into 15 entities, reiterating that a salary restructuring system will come into force at the start of the new year.

But he said some institutions, like the central bank, cannot be amalgamated or abolished, adding that "the restructuring, administrative development and modernisation, is ongoing and that new legislations on this process will be sent to the parliament."