AMMAN — The Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Tuesday said it had received official notification that the High Administrative Court has upheld the expulsion of MP Mohammad Al Jarrah from the Labour Party.

 

The commission said it will proceed with the necessary legal procedures in accordance with the Constitution and the provisions of the Election Law and the Political Parties Law.

 

Speaking to Al Mamlaka TV, IEC Board of Commissioners Chairman Musa Maaytah said the commission had received an official letter from the President of the High Administrative Court confirming the final ruling dismissing Jarrah from the party.

 

“The decision renders his parliamentary seat vacant, as he won it through the party list in the general constituency,” Maaytah said.

 

He added that the IEC Board of Commissioners convened and decided to cancel Jarrah’s membership in the parties’ register at the commission.

 

The Lower House has also formally notified the IEC to nominate the candidate who will fill the vacant seat, in line with the Constitution and the law.

 

Maaytah stressed that the IEC is the only constitutionally mandated body to determine who fills the vacated seat of a dismissed MP, citing Article 67 of the Constitution, which entrusts the commission with overseeing political parties’ affairs in accordance with the law, in addition to the provisions of the Election Law.

 

He noted that the vacant seat is allocated under the youth quota and will be filled by the next eligible candidate on the same party list, Hamza Toubasi. The IEC has forwarded his name to the Lower House to complete the necessary constitutional procedures.

 

“Article 58 of the Election Law stipulates that if a seat won through a party list becomes vacant due to resignation or final dismissal, it shall be filled by the next candidate on the same list. If the seat is reserved for women or youth, it must be filled by the next candidate from the same category,” Maaytah said.

 

He added that these provisions are intended to safeguard women’s and youth representation and ensure continuity in the event of a vacancy, noting that any party affected by the IEC’s decisions has the right to appeal before the judiciary.

 

Regarding an appeal filed by the candidate set to replace Jarrah over his earlier dismissal from the party, along with a group of members, Maaytah said the case is still under review by the courts. He noted that the candidate remains legally a party member until a final ruling is issued, as was the case with Jarrah prior to the final judgment against him.

 

Maaytah emphasised that the IEC’s role is limited to implementing the Constitution and the law with full neutrality, while the Lower House is responsible for completing the procedures for swearing in the new MP.

 

The High Administrative Court had upheld the Administrative Court’s decision to dismiss MP Mohammad Al-Jarrah from the Labour Party in a final, non-appealable ruling.

 

Labour Party Secretary-General Rola Huroub said the ruling confirms the legality of the procedures taken by the party against Jarrah, stressing that they were fully compliant with the law.