Jordanian Minister discusses Local Administration Law reforms

During parliamentary discussions regarding the Local Administration Law for 2026, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Administration Waleed Al-Masri addressed several key regulatory and administrative issues.

Regarding municipal governance, Al-Masri stated that the dissolution of municipal councils is not arbitrary but is based on legal justifications, such as failure to perform duties or making illegal appointments outside the budget. He noted that a new legislative provision limiting the time for holding elections after a council is dissolved to a maximum of one year serves as a positive check on executive power.

On the issue of urban planning and safety, the Minister clarified that municipalities do not have the authority to designate landslide-prone or prohibited construction zones; these responsibilities lie with specialized technical and scientific bodies. He cited a specific case in the Al-Taybeh area where the Royal Scientific Society was consulted to assess geological risks.

Furthermore, Al-Masri emphasized that any adjustments to municipal boundaries or the merging of municipalities must carefully consider demographic, social, and tribal compositions. He noted that such decisions require recommendations from administrative governors and studies of the financial and service-delivery impacts to avoid social friction.