AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah will inaugurate the third ordinary session of the 20th Parliament on Monday, delivering the Speech from the Throne before a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives.

 

Under Article 79 of the Constitution, the King inaugurates the ordinary session of the National Assembly with a Speech from the Throne addressed to a joint meeting of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

 

Following the Royal address, the Senate will convene to select members of the committee tasked with drafting its response to the Speech from the Throne.

 

A Royal Decree issued on September 30 postponed the ordinary session until November 2, 2026, with a subsequent decree summoning Parliament to convene on that date.

 

Article 78 of the Constitution stipulates that the King summons the National Assembly to an ordinary session on October 1 each year, or on the first working day thereafter if the date falls on an official holiday. The article also authorises the King, through a Royal Decree published in the Official Gazette, to postpone the session for up to two months.

 

The 20th House of Representatives was elected under the 2022 Election Law, which introduced closed party lists for the first time in Jordan's electoral history, allocating 41 of the House's 138 seats to political parties.

 

The tradition of the Speech from the Throne dates back to 1929, during the Emirate of Transjordan, while the first such address under the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was delivered in 1946.

 

His Majesty King Abdullah delivered his first Speech from the Throne in 1999, following his assumption of constitutional powers.

 

The late King Abdullah I, the founding king, assigned the prime minister to deliver the speech on six occasions between 1929 and 1947. Since then, Jordan's kings have maintained the tradition of personally delivering the address at the opening of parliamentary sessions.

 

The Speech from the Throne is a key constitutional occasion during which the country's national priorities and policy directions are outlined. It addresses political, economic and social issues, as well as regional and international developments, while highlighting reform and modernisation efforts, improving parliamentary and government performance, and strengthening coordination among the three branches of government.

 

Over the years, successive speeches have addressed a wide range of national priorities, including strengthening national unity, advancing political and economic reforms, developing the education sector, improving living standards and expanding political participation.

 

They have also highlighted Jordan's efforts to combat terrorism and extremism, as well as the Kingdom's role in addressing regional challenges.

 

The Palestinian cause and the defence of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, under the Hashemite Custodianship, have remained central themes in successive Speeches from the Throne, reflecting Jordan's longstanding position on the Palestinian issue and its commitment to safeguarding the holy sites.