Amman: The government on Sunday engaged in discussions regarding the draft Local Administration Law during a meeting with the Azm Party parliamentary bloc. The meeting was attended by Minister of Local Administration Walid Masri and several other ministers.
According to Jordan News Agency, Minister Walid Masri stated that the draft law aims to strengthen municipal governance, improve service delivery, enhance financial discipline, and expand oversight and accountability. He emphasized that municipalities provide approximately 70% of services to Jordanians. The draft law maintains the current election system, where mayors and council members are elected separately, and it proposes an increase in women's representation in municipal councils to 30%, along with measures to boost youth participation.
Masri elaborated that the ministry's role would remain supervisory and regulatory, with a strong focus on digitalization to improve efficiency and control spending. He also mentioned that the government is receptive to proposals that may further refine the legislation.
Minister of Youth Raed Adwan remarked that the draft law supports decentralization and aims to broaden representation in governorate councils, enhance oversight, and align development projects with local needs.
Head of the Azm Party bloc, MP Walid Masri, welcomed the dialogue, highlighting the importance of governance, transparency, and simplifying municipal procedures. Members of the bloc called for stronger oversight, greater community involvement, and measures to boost voter participation.