Amman, July 13, (Petra) – The Ministry of Government Communication has released the primary features of the 2026 Local Administration Draft Law, which was successfully referred by a parliamentary majority to the House Administrative Committee for detailed review.

The proposed legislation is designed to overhaul local governance frameworks, boost public service delivery, and expand grassroots civic engagement. A key objective of the bill is to equip municipalities with the legal tools to spearhead local investments, transforming them into economic drivers capable of generating growth within the governorates.

Structurally, the draft law establishes a clear separation of powers between elected municipal councils and their respective executive branches, eliminating overlapping jurisdictions to reinforce public accountability. Crucially, the bill upholds the democratic framework by preserving the direct, secret ballot system for electing both council members and municipal heads.

To ensure balanced regional growth, the law enhances development planning by guaranteeing proportional representation for under-developed zones and diverse geographical sectors, aimed at securing an equitable distribution of infrastructure projects and economic resources.

The bill also accelerates the digitization of local government by mandating comprehensive automation. Under the new rules, municipal executive bodies will be legally required to publish regular, public reports detailing financial performance, administrative metrics, and project timelines on official digital platforms to foster transparency and rebuild civic trust.

//Petra// AA


13/07/2026 11:41:41