Amman:MP Mohammad Salameh Ghuwairi has been elected as the Second Deputy Speaker of the Lower House of Representatives in Jordan, securing 85 votes in the election.
According to Jordan News Agency, Ghuwairi's opponent, MP Wasfi Haddad, received 48 votes, while one ballot was declared void. A total of 134 lawmakers participated in the voting process.
The election took place during a House session on Tuesday, presided over by Ibrahim Tarawneh. The First Deputy Speaker, Ayatollah Freihat, also chaired parts of the voting session. The election proceeded to a second round after candidates failed to achieve an absolute majority in the first round, as stipulated by Article 14, Paragraph (A) of the House's Rules of Procedure when more than two candidates are contesting.
In the first round, Ghuwairi garnered 66 votes, while Haddad and Raed Raba' received 53 and 15 votes, respectively. Three ballots were void, 137 deputies voted, and one member was absent for a valid reason. Prior to the first round, MPs Mohammad Mara'iyeh and Ibrahim Jbour withdrew their candidacies.
The session began on Monday evening, where the House agreed to form a committee to oversee the elections for the Permanent Bureau. This committee consisted of MPs Mohammad Hudaib, Moataz Abu Rumman, and Haitham Ziyadeen.