Jordanian king granted new powers by parliament

Published by
Al-Araby

Jordan’s parliament gave King Abdullah II sweeping new powers to appoint and dismiss officials on Monday after approving an amendment to the country’s constitution. MPs overwhelmingly voted to amend Article 40 of the constitution, giving the Jordanian monarch the ability to appoint and dismiss the Chief Justice, head of the Sharia Judicial Council, Grand Mufti, Chief of the Royal Court, Minister of the Court, and the king’s advisors. Only seven MPs (out of 130) voted against the measure, most of them from the Muslim Brotherhood-associated Islahpolitical bloc. Jordan’s constitution already give…