Ammon News - by Khaled Neimat

AMMAN (The Jordan Times) — MPs on Tuesday expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s absence from Lower House sessions on “crucial laws” such as the temporary social security law.

Deputy Kheirallah Abu Saalik (Amman, 4th District) withdrew from Tuesday’s session in protest against the “government’s deliberate absence” from recent Lower House sessions.

Lower House Speaker Saad Hayel Srour agreed with Abu Saalik.

“While MPs were performing their duties, the government missed some important sessions during which we needed the concerned ministers to be available while discussing key laws,” Srour said.

Meanwhile, more than 10 deputies signed a memorandum calling for holding a new vote of confidence in the government.

The memo, which was circulated among MPs during Tuesday’s session, is part of the deputies’ efforts to prevent the government from taking further decisions to increase prices, according to Deputy Raed Kouz (Amman, 2nd District).

He was referring to a recent government decision to increase taxes on mobile phones and subscriptions by 100 per cent.

The MPs’ move is also aimed at protesting against a “lack of government response” to citizens’ demands and needs, according to deputies.

This is the second attempt to push for a new vote of confidence in the current government; the first was in March, but it failed to obtain enough support.

During Tuesday’s session, 43 deputies signed another memorandum calling for the endorsement of a general pardon law.

They said the measure would lower the expenditure on prisons in the country and “promote values of tolerance and forgiveness”.

According to the memo, the pardon will reduce pressure on prisons and courts.