(MENAFN- Jordan Times) His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday stressed that the countdown has begun for the next parliamentary elections by the end of this year as the 2012 Elections Law went into effect earlier this week.
During a meeting with the president and members of the Independent Elections Commission (IEC), the Monarch stressed the need for the body to commence its duties and start taking all necessary measures to ensure smooth elections, according to a Royal Court statement.
The King, who voiced his wholehearted support for the IEC, underlined that his directives to the government to revisit the Elections Law were primarily meant to widen public participation in the polls.
He noted that the amendments to the law must ensure a fair representation of all segments of society in the next Chamber of Deputies and encourage political parties to compete in the elections to ultimately arrive at a Lower House capable of forming parliamentary blocs that will play a vital role in the selection of premiers and the formation of governments.
The Monarch also stressed the IEC's responsibility in ensuring that fair and transparent parliamentary elections are conducted to boost citizens' confidence in the elections process, the statement said.
Moreover, the King said the IEC should adopt a media strategy to open channels of communication with all citizens and institutions during the electoral process to ensure a complete success of the polls.
For their part, the president and council members of the IEC updated the King on the measures the monitoring body is taking to ensure the smoothness and success of the coming parliamentary elections.
In remarks to Jordan Television and the Jordan News Agency, Petra, IEC President Abdul Ilah Khatib said the commission is already taking all the measures stipulated in the Elections Law, which went effective on Sunday.
Khatib added that the IEC will soon decide on the data that will be included on the voting identification cards, which will be issued by the Civil Status and Passports Department.
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