Response of the Senate to the Throne Speech at the Opening of the Extraordinary Session of the Nineteenth Parliament of Jordan
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful And may peace and blessings be upon our master Muhammad, the trustworthy Arab Hashemite Prophet.
Your Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein,
Peace be upon our King, who honors the rule of his illustrious ancestors from the pure Hashemite family... Peace be upon the path of goodness, blessing, and growth, crowned with glory, dignity, and pride...
And greetings, Your Majesty, from your loving people, who reciprocate your love with love, invoking the Almighty to protect and care for you, and to guide your steps on the path of goodness...
Your Majesty,
On this glorious day in the history of Jordanians, in this beloved Hashemite sanctuary, we are honored, Your Majesty, to stand before you in the noble halls of Raghadan, in the beautiful Basmans, and in the sacred residence that is the home of all Jordanians. Here, the hopes of the nation have converged, and the hearts of its free citizens have resonated, generation after generation. Here, the allegiance of the Jordanians to the Hashemites has settled from one generation to another. We are further honored, Your Majesty, to be in your presence and to raise to your esteemed position the highest expressions of loyalty and gratitude as you graciously opened the extraordinary session of the Nineteenth Parliament of Jordan, presenting the Throne Speech as a hallmark of a renewed phase of giving, guidance, and confirmation of the interests of the Jordanians and the constants of the nation.
Despite the delicate and challenging circumstances, the convening of the Nineteenth Parliament of Jordan has always come as an execution of constitutional obligations and a commitment to the path of state institutions and the rule of law, reaffirming the will to complete and develop our democratic journey and serve our cherished Jordan and its loyal people. This is the way of Jordan, which is never deterred by circumstances or challenges from making the necessary decisions and respecting its legal and constitutional rules. We have fulfilled this obligation with goodness, safety, and success, thanks to Allah and the wisdom of Your Majesty.
Your Majesty,
This constitutional obligation has demonstrated your people's belief in democracy and their commitment to the spirit of the constitution. The will of Jordanian youth has manifested through the nomination of the largest number of them, resulting in their representation in the legislative authority.
Today, the convening of the Parliament of Jordan comes on the threshold of the second centenary of our state, firmly rooted in its ancient roots and looking forward to a promising future, by the grace of Allah and His success. We proudly declare to the world that we are under the noble umbrella of the pure Hashemite family, in the covenant of our fathers and grandfathers, the soldiers of the message of truth and goodness. We stand tall, honored and proud of our leader and beloved king, who skillfully holds the helm and leads the march with steady steps and determination, with a heart at peace, focused solely on the goodness of his people, the pride of his nation, and the service of his community.
Your Majesty,
Both near and far bear witness to your wisdom and resolve in every difficult moment. During the COVID-19 pandemic that swept the world and preoccupied people, your royal directives and wise guidance have been a compass for the right path.
You directed, Your Majesty, the entire state to support the health sector, enhancing it with everything that enables it to fulfill its duties at the highest level. You instructed the establishment of a national center for combating epidemics and communicable diseases, as well as the creation of civil and military field hospitals. Your Majesty supported the pharmaceutical industries and medical and health supplies, transforming many daunting challenges into promising opportunities.
Your Majesty,
Your royal directives and your diligent follow-up on those managing the crisis during the pandemic to confront it and achieve control over it, with the help of Allah, were accompanied by your commitment to continue protecting all sectors of the national economy. Your Majesty's orders to develop plans, programs, and thoughtful, implementable decisions have led to strengthening the Kingdom's strategic stockpiles and working to make Jordan a strategic storage center for the entire region. Your Majesty emphasized the importance of appropriately caring for the sectors of industry, agriculture, and transportation to enhance the foundations of national resilience, foremost among them food security, making every Jordanian feel proud of their country and its achievements, and of their dignity as individuals with protected and abundant honor, under the shade of a loving and inspiring leadership that leaves no stone unturned in addressing issues for the benefit of its people and nation.
True partnership is the foundation of the relationship between the public and private sectors. It is an intrinsic Jordanian characteristic that has accompanied the construction journey. Thanks to it, major economic establishments and institutions have been built, and achievements have been realized on a basis of participation, integration, and balance.
It is time to empower the private sector to continue to assume its national role with responsibility, flexibility, and confidence, and to take its appropriate role in leading the economy and employing Jordanians, supported by a capable, qualified, and honest public administration that activates the partnership between the two sectors, invigorating the economy, providing job opportunities for our youth, and continuing programs, plans, and work, and stimulating economic development across all governorates.
Your Majesty,
Your efforts and directives have not been limited to protecting the health and physical safety of Jordanians alone; from the very first moment, your will has urged the improvement of services and the protection of fundamental rights, foremost among them the right to education and the continued support for academic excellence. Modern educational alternatives have emerged to ensure the continuity of school and university education, which continues to be the subject of enhancement, improvement, and development. Work continues so that Jordan remains a beacon of knowledge and education, impervious to any circumstance, and continuously able to provide its sons and daughters with the resources they need for the future. They are the hope of the nation’s leader and his constant support, to continue the construction process and to ensure that our beloved Jordan, in its second centenary, remains a banner and a trust, an example and a model, and a source of pride and honor for its children and the children of its nation.
Your Majesty,
And when we speak of pride, it cannot be complete without mentioning our brave armed forces—the Arab Army—and our security agencies, the shield of the homeland and the fence of its safety and stability, and a source of pride for the supreme commander and the joy of the head of state and the place of hope and the bond of aspiration...
Our Arab army and security agencies, under your victorious leadership, have written the finest images of loyalty, sacrifice, and dedication during the challenges and crises of this year. They have remained, as you have always known them, active and retired, a strong support for their homeland and their people, a beacon of light and fire that illuminates the paths and protects the homeland while countering the efforts of the misled.
The spirit of soldiering and belonging, which the bearers of the national flag take pride in, is a general patriotic spirit, manifested in every field of work and giving.
This selfless spirit of sacrifice, devotion, and altruism has been felt by all Jordanians, from all workers across the beloved homeland, and among the white army of doctors, nurses, and workers in various health sectors. They have made boundless efforts and great sacrifices, evident in the rising of a group of martyrs of duty, who fulfilled their covenant with Allah and did not change their commitment.
The spirit of soldiering and loyalty has risen above all considerations, and the faithful Jordanians, in every field of duty, have shown solidarity and compassion, like one body, presenting the finest images of solidarity and mutual support.
As we renew our pledge to Your Majesty and to your proud people, we pledge, Your Majesty, to continue our work and fulfill our duties with all that the spirit of soldiering and the meanings of citizenship require: altruism, unity, and dedication so that goodness can prevail for all Jordanians, and our efforts can focus on supporting the judiciary by upholding the law and enhancing its sovereignty, ensuring that there is no environment for corruption to thrive, that public funds remain protected, and that accountability extends to anyone who dares to infringe upon them. This necessitates our work to focus on oversight and legislation within a framework of participation and integration among the three authorities, with full transparency, maintaining openness, and striving for achievement, away from narrow self-interests, as intended by our beloved leader and her guidance.
Your Majesty, the guardian of the sanctuaries,
The Jerusalem that lives in your heart, and whose cause you carry, along with the just cause of Palestine, will remain a pulsating core of Jordanian politics and the conscience and soul of every Jordanian. All institutions of the homeland will continue to be a steadfast support for your blessed efforts. We raise our heads high, Your Majesty, proud that our beloved king is the holder of the historic Hashemite guardianship over the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, which we do not accept any infringement upon their historical and legal status, nor do we accept any partnership or division of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the entire blessed Al-Haram Al-Qudsi. We stand behind Your Majesty in defending our central cause, Palestine.
We affirm, as stated in your exalted speech, that the main reason for the region remaining a hostage to conflict and the absence of stability is the continuation of occupation and the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their just and legitimate rights, represented in the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, viable along the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Our Master and Lord;
The Senate, Your Majesty, pledges to remain as you have known it—united Jordanians, determined and resolute, proud of our homeland, and raising our heads high in honor of our esteemed king and the honorable Crown Prince. We build together with you, under your noble guidance, the pillars of our nation, and we work tirelessly for its elevation and prosperity, behind your inspired Hashemite leadership and in the shade of the pure Hashemite family.
And peace be upon our esteemed master, with the mercy of Allah and His blessings.