The Parliament

I always wanted to be part of the democratic process-to walk into our parliament which looks so impressive from outside and come out on the other side feeling that I had just witnessed democracy in Jordan. I finally got that chance on Wednesday of last week, when the parliament was going to discuss the law dealing with Civil Society in Jordan, which I believe effects us all. I wanted to be there to see how the parliamentarians were going to discuss it, what issues were going to be raised how they would vote in the end.

I had always been told that you need permission before you can go to the parliament and listen to the discussions, well that is FALSE. All you need is your ID card and you walk in.

It is quite impressive when you walk in and sit there, and the best thing for me (here is where I indulge the child within) was when I realised that as each parliamentarian sat down his/her name would pop up on a huge screen. So you knew who was sitting where, and since I don't know all our parliamentarian this was very helpful.

Then the discussions started, and well I can't say with all honesty that it was always entertaining, but at certain points they had arguments and disagreements and that was fun.

I was quite disappointed how quickly the Civil Society Law passed, how none of them objected to certain clauses in it, such as the ones that deal with getting permission before setting up any sort of Jam3eyeh, or how you have to bring someone from the government to be on your Board when a new organisation is being set up, and so for and so on. All leading to the government having more control on the civil society in our country.

As a result of all of this, I believe that we all need to head down to the Parliament more often, show our parliamentarian that we are listening to them...that we are holding them accountable to things that they tell us when we are eating Mansaf with them. Show them that we care about the decisions that they are making, that they matter, and maybe if they saw that then they would be more inclined to start listening to what we are saying to them.

Maybe they won't get such a bad percentage in the Jordan News Agency-Petra poll that asks:

Are you satisfied with Parliament Performance after two sessions?
- Yes (1.77%)
- No (96.76%)
- no comment (1.47%)
Total Voting : 7276




I am embarrassed that 96.76% are saying that they are not satisfied with their own voted parliament!!!!!! Yes I am an idealist, and I believe that in the end the parliament and the parliamentarian will be an effective means for the people to voice their concerns.