Amman, Oct. 19 (Petra) – Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Monem Odat said municipal councils are the government’s first interface with citizens and the cornerstone for consolidating the concept of popular participation in decision-making.

Odat added that the councils provide a genuine platform for citizens to express their priorities and needs and to participate in shaping and following up on development plans. He stressed that developing and empowering municipalities is a national priority aimed at improving service quality and strengthening public trust in state institutions.

He made the remarks on Sunday while sponsoring the launch of the dialogue program with political parties on the "Local Administration Law," organized by the Ministry of Political and Parliamentary Affairs in partnership with the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, and in cooperation with the European Union Delegation to Jordan and Expertise France, within the framework of the "Support to Democratic Reforms in Jordan" program. The event was attended by heads of parliamentary blocs and committees and several representatives of political parties in Parliament.

Odat said that the modernization project, in its three tracks, constitutes a comprehensive national vision to build a modern Jordanian state capable of meeting current requirements and anticipating the future, while upholding the principles of participation, accountability, transparency, and the rule of law.

He affirmed that political parties are a key pillar in the political modernization system and bear a central role in developing realistic visions and programs for local administration that contribute to achieving balanced and comprehensive development and reinforce public participation in local decision-making, in line with the objectives of the national modernization project.

Odat pointed out that reviewing and developing the Local Administration Law is a necessary step to empower municipalities and governorate councils, which will positively reflect on service quality and enhance citizens’ trust in their institutions.

He explained that effective local administration is based on sound governance that boosts performance efficiency, reinforces transparency in decision-making, and engages citizens in setting priorities and monitoring implementation.

For his part, Minister of Local Administration Walid Masri said the outcomes of political modernization included several recommendations for developing local administration legislation, stemming from the state’s deep belief that genuine community development begins with local councils municipalities and governorate councils.

He added that municipalities are state partners responsible for urban and spatial planning and public service delivery, alongside governorate councils, which represent a genuine step toward decentralization. Both bodies play essential roles in advancing sustainable development that serves all segments of society.

Masri noted that a draft Local Administration Law will be prepared after reaching consensus on the law’s main pillars, which aim to strengthen municipal work and empower and improve the governance of governorate councils. He said the draft will be subject to dialogue with civil society organizations, experts, and political parties to refine and enhance it, ensuring alignment with the visions of political and economic modernization and public sector reform.

He underlined that municipalities have several vital roles, including fostering social cohesion within their areas, achieving interactive and continuous democracy, and realizing full public oversight.

He also emphasized the role of municipalities in preparing an investment-friendly environment for the private sector to enable it to perform effectively, cover its expenses, and create job opportunities for citizens within governorates. He highlighted the importance of this program in supporting the development of the Local Administration Law, which focuses on daily services and improving citizens’ quality of life.

For his part, the European Union Ambassador to Jordan, Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, expressed his pleasure at launching this dialogue process, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to supporting Jordan’s political reform efforts. He said the partnership between Jordan and the EU represents a model of constructive cooperation in promoting democracy and good governance.

Meanwhile, Bashar Al-Khatib, the representative of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy in Jordan, said the program is part of the political reform process, noting that the Local Administration Law constitutes a cornerstone for achieving democratic decentralization and enhancing citizen participation at the municipal and governorate levels.

He added that through this program, the institute will facilitate dialogue between political parties in cooperation with the Ministry of Political and Parliamentary Affairs to ensure inclusiveness and participation in the reform process.

Participants raised several issues, including the importance of legislative stability to stimulate economic development, rebuilding roles and powers within local councils, and reaffirming accountability and responsibility in line with the principle of the rule of law.

The program aims to strengthen constructive dialogue among Jordanian political parties on modernization priorities related to activating decentralization and local governance and to build political consensus on future national directions for local administration in Jordan.

//Petra// AF