Amman, Feb 11 (Petra) - The Independent Election Commission (IEC) said it is not a party to any internal party disputes and that all procedures related to the expulsion of former MP Mohammad Al Jarrah, which concluded with a final court ruling upholding the party’s decision to dismiss him, are judicial measures that all parties must comply with.

IEC spokesperson Mohammad Khair Rawashdeh said it is "a body that regulates party affairs and monitors the implementation of applicable laws." He told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the commission was notified of the court ruling concerning the MP’s expulsion from the party, which required informing the Lower House of Parliament of the loss of his membership after the decision to dismiss him from the party was upheld, and the legal effect resulted in the vacancy of a party seat in the general constituency.

Rawashdeh said the Lower House addressed the IEC regarding the vacancy of the party seat allocated to the general constituency under the youth category, which required a response that the candidate from the same category on the Labor Party list, which ran in the 20th parliamentary elections and whose name was recorded in the nomination application at the time, is Hamza Hani Mohammad Khalil "Al Toubasi." He stressed that the implementation of the election and political party laws and the procedures undertaken by the IEC are based on the constitution and applicable legislation governing its work, while the law guarantees the right of any aggrieved party to resort to the judiciary and challenge decisions issued by the IEC Board of Commissioners.

Rawashdeh said the commission is not a party to any internal party matter, noting that all procedures related to the expulsion of the MP who follows former MP Al Jarrah require a final judicial ruling. Based on that, the commission filled the vacant youth-category seat from the Labor Party list, given the continuity of his party membership until a final court ruling upholding his dismissal from the party’s register is issued.

He added that the IEC Board of Commissioners, which met on Wednesday, issued a decision based on the constitution and applicable laws regarding the vacancy of a party seat in the general constituency under the youth category and identified the name of the MP who will replace the former MP who ran under the same category.

Rawashdeh reiterated that any dispute over IEC decisions should be addressed in court, and any aggrieved party has the right to appeal the commission’s decision, which he said reinforces the integrity of procedures and the impartiality of the decisions issued.

//Petra// AF