Workshop examines royal discussion papers in Jordan

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Tuesday stressed that His Majesty King Abdullah II's five discussion papers reflect His Majesty's considered view that exchange of ideas between the leader and the people is the most democratic manner to arrive at a decision.
The prime minister made the remarks at the Royal Cultural Center, where he sponsored a workshop, organized by the Ministry of Public Sector Development, to discuss the King's discussion papers' contents, which addressed the government approach towards work and the reforms in the public sector.
"I think this is unprecedented for a leader to address his people, seeking their opinion and participation," Ensour explained, stressing that these ideas are not decrees issued to be implemented as it is not a state policy, taken for granted, or dictation. The King had put it across in order to launch a dialogue among the community to strengthen the process of modernization and development taking place in Jordan in all fields.
He pointed out that the themes related to the public sector in terms of its role, size and mission are all issues raised by the papers as well as discussion about the economics of this sector and its effectiveness, stressing that Jordan is undergoing strong administrative reforms.
Ensour said that the government will, within days, submit to the Parliament two draft laws for decentralization and municipalities.
He added that the government had submitted the parties draft law and will later submit another to conduct elections, after endorsing the three laws.
The Minister of Public Sector Development, Khleif Al Khawaldeh, pointed out that the workshop aims at eliciting various opinions about the content of His Majesty's discussion papers on the development of government work approach, public sector reform and the government's efforts to translate that content on the ground, to benefit from these opinions and enrich the governmental bodies' performance plan for the coming years.
Participants in the workshop presented their views, in which they termed the royal discussion papers as very important documents in the course of Jordanian policy-making and said these will help regain the confidence in the government sector, that has built Jordan over the past decades.
They stressed the need to activate these discussion papers and apply their substantive outcomes, pointing to the importance of improving the working conditions in the public sector.
The participants also expressed the hope that the government would endorse an election law that contributes to strengthen the role of parties in the Jordanian political and parliamentary system.