Amman, Oct. 4 (Petra) -- Political party academies can help turn membership into effective political participation by equipping members to develop programs, debate policy and take part in decision-making, Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Abdulmunim Odat said.

Odat made the remarks Saturday evening at the launch of the Jordanian Conservative Party's Political Academy, describing structured training as essential for parties seeking to strengthen their institutions and prepare future leaders.

He said Jordan's political modernization process, led by His Majesty King Abdullah II, has expanded opportunities for parties to participate in public life while raising expectations for them to develop their organizational capacity, political programs and human resources.

"The investment in party cadres is an investment in the party's future and its ability to perform its national role," Odat said.

He added that the strength of a political party should be measured not by its age, but by the ideas and programs it contributes to political life and the issues it brings into public debate.

Odat said the academy could strengthen the Conservative Party's institutional capacity by linking political knowledge with practical party work and preparing members to articulate and defend policies and positions through informed argument.

Conservative Party Secretary-General Talal Shurafat said disciplined party organization is critical to moving political activity from individual efforts toward collective institutional work.

He said the party plans to expand its presence across the Kingdom, including rural and Badia areas, while promoting national identity and the principles of integrity, justice and equality.

Shurafat also stressed the importance of cooperation between state institutions and political parties in strengthening organized political participation and the domestic front.

Ghaida Abu Rumman, chair of the academy's board of trustees, said effective democracy requires more than expressing opinions, arguing that political parties must be able to translate ideas into practical programs that contribute to national development.

She said rapid technological change is reshaping political engagement and creating a greater need to equip young people with skills suited to new forms of political and public work.

The academy will provide training aimed at strengthening party members' capabilities, organizational discipline and readiness for public engagement, she added.

During the launch, Academy Director Hamad Al-Jazi presented the institution's vision, mission, objectives and training plan.

The party also unveiled the academy's electronic platform, which will provide training programs for the wider public as well as specialized courses for party members.

The event included a panel titled "The Importance of Party Education in Political Modernization," featuring Hael Daoud, Ministry Secretary-General Ali Khawaldeh and Conservative Party National Council President Rifaat Al-Tawil.

Party leaders and members, along with political and partisan figures, attended the launch.

//Petra// RZ

04/10/2026 11:57:44