Jordan's lower house of parliament on Sunday rejected opposition calls to limit King Abdullah II's constitutional powers as part of targeted political reforms. "The house categorically rejects political blackmail and calls by some people for limiting the king's constitutional powers," the chamber said in a statement.
"Such calls do not reflect the convictions of the Jordanian community and seek to fragment the Jordanian state," it said.
Prominent opposition figures recently suggested that the country be turned into a "constitutional monarchy" through the annulment of all amendments introduced into the 1952 constitution, which provided for a "parliamentary and hereditary monarchy."
The critics in particular cited the king's power to appoint the prime minister and cabinet ministers, and said the formation of governments should be decided by elections.
The house said political reforms should be decided through "constructive dialogue and not through the street," in a reference to a series of demonstrations in Jordan over the past three months that were inspired by the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt that led to the ouster of long-time presidents.
Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit earlier this week lashed out at the Muslim Brotherhood movement and its political arm, the Islamic Action Front, for boycotting meetings of the National Dialogue Committee he had set up to consider the reforms proposed by the king.
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