Continued protests over the lack of real democracy could mean a concession to constitutional democracy, says Khetam Malkawi Mass protests organised by the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the dissolution of the Lower House of Parliament, calls for early parliamentary elections and the establishment of the Constitutional Court happened in fast succession in Jordan over the past week, all part of the "political reform" drive in Jordan. After King Abdullah's decision to dissolve the lower house of parliament and calls for elections within four months, the IAF held a mass protest on Friday, with thousands of followers demanding reform and amendments to the elections law, dissatisfied with the one-person, one-vote system. The Islamists' demands may not have been particularly new, but the number of participants in the protest was unprecedented. Government-affiliated newspapers said up to 1,000 protesters took part in the rally, while Hamza Mansour, secretary-general of the IAF, claimed that the number exceeded 50,000. The number of protesters may be moot, but both government and Islamists claimed victory on account of the fact that the protest witnessed no clashes. After the tense pre-weekend days and Friday, now Jordanians are awaiting the resignation of Fayez Tarawneh's government and the appointment of a new prime minister, who will be the fifth in less than two years. Tarawneh government's resignation, however, will differ from those the three preceding governments. According to Paragraph 2 of Article 74 of the constitution, the government that is in office when parliament is dissolved must resign within one week of the dissolution. At the same time, the premier during whose term the parliament is dissolved cannot form a new government. The governments of Samir Rifaai and Maarouf Bakhit had to resign upon public demand, while Awn Khasawneh submitted his resignation without being asked to. Despite the dissolution of the 16th parliament, the IAF is still hopeful that the king will support it and call for amendments to the current elections law, Mansour told Al-Ahram Weekly. He cited Article 94 of the constitution, which allows "temporary laws" to be issued in the absence of the Chamber of Deputies. According to Paragraph 1 of Article 94 of the constitution, "in cases where the National Assembly is not sitting or is dissolved, the Council of Ministers has, with the approval of the king, the power to issue provisional laws covering matters which require necessary measures which admit of no delay or which necessitate expenditures incapable of postponement. Such provisional laws, which shall not be contrary to the provisions of the constitution, shall have the force of law, provided that they are placed before the assembly at the beginning of its next session, and the assembly may approve or amend such laws." Mansour said achieving reforms in the kingdom requires "necessary measures", and these include amending the elections law. He also called for "the dissolved parliament to convene again", all the while acknowledging that he is more amenable to talking with the premier that succeeds Tarawneh if he shows intent to adopt measures seeking real reform. Columnist and political analyst Jumana Ghuneimat seems to agree with Mansour, believing that the personality of the upcoming premier might shape the reform process in Jordan. She told the Weekly that the next PM will be responsible for leading a dialogue to reach a national consensus on the future of political reform in the country, or lead it to another "unsafe" scenario, ending up with no agreement with the opposition. Al-Dostour columnist Batir Wardam believes this is the last time a Jordanian prime minister will be appointed, citing the king's statement that future governments will be formed through parliament. In less than two days, the incumbent government is bound to submit its resignation, leaving the stage for new players who will have a say in the political reform process. Jordanians eagerly await the new names.
