Jordan MPs demand PM, cabinet ouster
Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit
Jordanian lawmakers have signed a petition demanding the removal of Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit and his cabinet for failing to implement promised reforms.
Parliamentarian Mamdouh Abbadi told the Associated Press on Sunday in Amman that a memorandum signed by 70 out of 120 lawmakers was presented to the royal palace earlier in the day.
The demands of the MPs are similar to the calls of protesters that have taken to the streets in recent months urging Jordan's King Abdullah II to sack Bakhit, dissolve the parliament, and put an end to government corruption.
Inspired by popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Bahrain, Jordanians have been protesting for months, demanding political and economic reforms.
In June, in a bid to appease protesters, the US-backed Jordanian ruler announced several concessions, including that the formation of future governments would be based on an elected parliamentary majority rather than one appointed by the monarch.
However, he later backed out, saying it may take two to three years to put an elected government in place.
As the parliament is in recess, the lawmakers requested that King Abdullah II, who has the final say on all matters of state, dismiss the prime minister and his cabinet.
There was no immediate reaction to the development by the Jordanian ruler.
Concerning Prime Minister Bakhit, parliamentarian Abbadi said, "It's time for him and his cabinet to go."
Jordan has been witnessing anti-government rallies calling for reforms since January.
Last week, anti-government protesters poured into the streets of the Jordanian capital, Amman, to reject government-sponsored constitutional reforms.
Protesters say the amendments proposed by the Royal Commission do not meet their demands.
GJH/JG/MB
