Jordanian cabinet approves draft constitutional amendments

The Council of Ministers on Sunday endorsed amendments to the constitution that will be sent to the Lower House for debate during the current extraordinary session of Parliament.
The changes aimed to expand the role of the Independent Elections Commission (IEC) and authorise it to manage parliamentary, municipal and any other elections the government assigns, and vest the power to appoint the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and director of the Intelligence Department in the King, the supreme commander of the armed forces.
One of the amendments confines the armed forces’ mission to defending the country and preserving its safety.
The amendments were requested by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour in a letter to His Majesty King Abdullah in reply to the King's letter last week in which he had directed the government to activate the defence ministry and expand the jurisdiction of the IEC.
During today's session, chaired by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, the ministers also approved a draft amending the renewable energy and energy rationing law and sent it to the legislature. The amendment is meant to deregulate the licensing of renewable energy projects in the Kingdom to meet the national energy goals.