jordan pulse -
Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh's government is approaching a "safe zone" where it will tie its fate to that of the House of Representatives if the House is not dissolved within the next few hours.
This move is bolstered by the King's current absence from the country as he has departed Sun Valley for Salt Lake City, Utah, to participate in the National Governors Association's summer conference.
Constitutional expert Dr. Laith Nasrawin explained that Article 74/2 of the Constitution mandates that if the House is dissolved within the last four months of its term, the government must resign within a week and the Prime Minister cannot be tasked with forming the next government.
The last four months of the current House's term, during which the government is safe from resignation, will begin on July 15, 2024. The 19th House of Representatives' term started on November 16, 2020, thus the current term ends in four solar years. Consequently, the House will enter its final four months in the next two days.
Constitutional indications suggest that the House will not be dissolved in the coming days, meaning the government will not be obligated to resign if dissolution is ordered. It is expected that the upcoming elections will take place under the current government, supervised by the Independent Election Commission.
Nasrawin emphasized that the current government's stability is supported by the King's absence and the royal decree appointing a deputy during his absence, which explicitly restricts the deputy from amending the constitution or exercising the King's powers under Articles 33(a) and 35.
The Independent Election Commission has set the next parliamentary elections for September 10, quashing speculation about a possible delay. King Abdullah II has decreed the elections to be conducted according to the law.
The upcoming elections will follow a new electoral law that increases the number of House members from 130 to 138, with 41 seats reserved for political parties.