Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Three parliamentary blocs on Wednesday announced forming a parliamentary coalition in the Lower House ahead of important internal elections that include electing a Lower House speaker, the speaker's deputies, and parliamentary committees.
The three blocs, the National Labor Front, the Islamist Centrist Bloc, and Watan (Nation), announced forming the coalition that now includes 58 members of Parliament.
The coalition was formed after over a week of deliberations, which included discussions with six various parliamentary blocs that were standing during the ordinary and extraordinary sessions.
The six parliamentary blocs are not expected to remain standing after amendments to the internal by-laws of the Lower House, which are expected to lead to merging blocs together or forming new ones.
The agreement to form a coalition between the three blocs guarantees the minimum number of blocs allowed by the internal structure of the lower house following the recent amendments to the by-laws during the 17th parliament's extraordinary session, which sets the minimum number of blocs to form a coalition at 3.
Parliamentary sources noted that the objectives of the coalition will not stop at the permanent office elections, set to be held on November 3rd by electing a new House Speaker, two deputies, two assistants, and members of the parliamentary committees. The objectives surpass the elections and aim to "spearhead the progress and development of parliamentary function and performance in the upcoming phase."
Parliamentary coalitions are often formed ahead of internal House elections, but soon disintegrate after members of the Permanent Office and parliamentary committees are formed.
Seven MPs so far had announced running for the House Speakership position, including Saad Hayel al-Srour, Abdul Karim al-Dughmi, Mustafa al-Amawi, Atef al-Tarawneh, Assaf al-Shobaki, Nassar al-Qaisi, and Abdul Hadi al-Maharmeh.