Social media users in Jordan have poured scorn on MPs over their poor attendance at a session on a new Income Tax Law that led to the fall of the last government.
Of the 130-strong Lower House, only 72 lawmakers attended the Chamber's first discussion of possible fresh amendments to the legislation.
On his Twitter account, Ziad Ababneh criticised the modest attendance saying: "When trying to find out why they were absent, I think MPs were afraid of flash floods". In response Nezar Mansour called on Jordanians to write down the names of those MPs who were absent from the session and to “never elect them again”.
Jeje Kilani also claimed that the deputies' absence was intentional and was meant as an “escape mechanism” to avoid having to take responsibility for the outcome, according to the Jordan Times.
Blaming the Elections Law, Aiman Smadi said that MPs were too confident of being re-elected to Parliament, and “that is why they act this way”.
But the last government of former Prime Minister Hani Mulki submitted its resignation following waves of protests across the country over amendments it had tried to make to the Income Tax Law.
The Chamber has now endorsed some articles of the draft Law, with MPs expected to pass the entire Bill. But given the controversy engulfing it and the negative reception by the public, political parties and civil society organisations, the Chamber's deliberations over the new amendments are expected to take time.
Widespread absences from Parliamentary sessions have been noted many times before by citizens, and by the House itself. During a recent meeting with MPs, His Majesty King Abdullah stressed the need to solve any problems that were hindering the House’s performance, especially the frequent lack of quorum.
Emma Woollacott is a freelance business journalist. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Guardian, the Times, Forbes and the BBC.
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Social media users in Jordan have poured scorn on MPs over their poor attendance at a session on a new Income Tax Law that led to the fall of the last government.
Of the 130-strong Lower House, only 72 lawmakers attended the Chamber's first discussion of possible fresh amendments to the legislation.
On his Twitter account, Ziad Ababneh criticised the modest attendance saying: "When trying to find out why they were absent, I think MPs were afraid of flash floods". In response Nezar Mansour called on Jordanians to write down the names of those MPs who were absent from the session and to “never elect them again”.
Jeje Kilani also claimed that the deputies' absence was intentional and was meant as an “escape mechanism” to avoid having to take responsibility for the outcome, according to the Jordan Times.
Blaming the Elections Law, Aiman Smadi said that MPs were too confident of being re-elected to Parliament, and “that is why they act this way”.
But the last government of former Prime Minister Hani Mulki submitted its resignation following waves of protests across the country over amendments it had tried to make to the Income Tax Law.
The Chamber has now endorsed some articles of the draft Law, with MPs expected to pass the entire Bill. But given the controversy engulfing it and the negative reception by the public, political parties and civil society organisations, the Chamber's deliberations over the new amendments are expected to take time.
Widespread absences from Parliamentary sessions have been noted many times before by citizens, and by the House itself. During a recent meeting with MPs, His Majesty King Abdullah stressed the need to solve any problems that were hindering the House’s performance, especially the frequent lack of quorum.
Emma Woollacott is a freelance business journalist. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Guardian, the Times, Forbes and the BBC.
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Jordan publishes amended income tax Bill
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