Thu Oct 4, 2012, 05:02 PM

Judi Lynn (77,598 posts)

On eve of protest, King Abdullah dissolves parliament

Source: CNN

On eve of protest, King Abdullah dissolves parliament
By the CNN Wire Staff
updated 3:52 PM EDT, Thu October 4, 2012

(CNN) -- On the eve of a protest expected in Amman Friday, Jordan's king has dissolved the country's parliament and called for early elections close to the new year.

This isn't the first time King Abdullah II has responded pre-emptively to a possible Arab Spring-inspired demonstration in the country. But it could foreshadow the seriousness of the rally, which is likely to echo the push for democratic reforms that have swept North Africa and the Middle East.

Popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya ousted longtime leaders from power.

In nearly two years, King Abdullah has fired four prime ministers.

In February 2011, shortly before Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak stepped down following weeks of intense protest, Abdullah dismissed his government and appointed a new prime minister. The king ordered Marouf al-Bakhit to make "genuine political reform," the country's royal court reported.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/04/world/meast/jordan-king-dismisses-government/index.html

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37 replies	Author	Time	Post
On eve of protest, King Abdullah dissolves parliament (Original post)	Judi Lynn	Oct 2012	OP
What's the point of a constitutional monarchy if the king still	Cleita	Oct 2012	#1
Parliamentary dissolution is a normal part of all constitutional monarchies. (nt)	Posteritatis	Oct 2012	#3
Presidents can do it in some republics too. It's not always a bad thing.	Lars77	Oct 2012	#5
Yep. It's one of the key differences between parliamentary and presidential systems.	Posteritatis	Oct 2012	#6
Be nice if Pres. Obama could dissolve Congress.	kelliekat44	Oct 2012	#34
Then there is no point to calling it a democracy of any sort if that's	Cleita	Oct 2012	#8
Is it democratic when a british PM calls election right after a won war?	Lars77	Oct 2012	#9
Or the legislative branch, depending on the particular country.	Posteritatis	Oct 2012	#12
Ahh, yes, "American democracy is the only kind anywhere in the world."	Posteritatis	Oct 2012	#11
Bit harsh.	Lars77	Oct 2012	#13
Enh, provincial exceptionalism's common enough here that I lost patience with it awhile ago. (nt)	Posteritatis	Oct 2012	#15
The only provincialism being displayed here is yours. n/t	Cleita	Oct 2012	#21
+1000	DeSwiss	Oct 2012	#24
but seriously	SemperEadem	Oct 2012	#32
LOL, right. (nt)	Posteritatis	Oct 2012	#37
Switzerland is democracy	tama	Oct 2012	#17
Actually, I was thinking of real democracy, which doesn't exist, particularly here in America.	Cleita	Oct 2012	#20
Under a parliamentary system, there are no set election dates	ButterflyBlood	Oct 2012	#26
So shouldn't somebody other than the King be doing this?	Cleita	Oct 2012	#29
It's always the Head of State who does it, who's usually a figurehead.	ButterflyBlood	Oct 2012	#30
He can only do that with a divided congress, which we had in 2010.	joshcryer	Oct 2012	#16
I wouldn't have wanted it in reality because sometimes I feel if we	Cleita	Oct 2012	#19
Well, they are part of the rules, the rule is if the two congresses can't decide...	joshcryer	Oct 2012	#25
I could have shared your fantasy except the reality is that if	Cleita	Oct 2012	#28
The thing is anyone with sense would've known the House would be obstructionist...	joshcryer	Oct 2012	#35
So do you not consider Canada a democracy?	ButterflyBlood	Oct 2012	#23
I have never known the Queen to dissolve parliament in Canada, Australia, New Zealand	Cleita	Oct 2012	#27
In the first three countries it's done by the Governor General, a representative of the Queen	ButterflyBlood	Oct 2012	#31
she has the power to do so in the UK	SemperEadem	Oct 2012	#33
Yeah, and clubbing someone over the head...	JackRiddler	Oct 2012	#36
What has he done to give you that impression?	Lars77	Oct 2012	#4
because keeping up appearances is an important part of public relations scams? *nt	Alamuti Lotus	Oct 2012	#7
King Abdullah is actually a pretty progressive guy	Lars77	Oct 2012	#2
The PNAC pushers soon may reap the ramifications of success.	Octafish	Oct 2012	#10
King Abdullah on Jon Stewart just a week ago:	Lars77	Oct 2012	#14
Thanks for posting the link from those of us who missed it! n/t	Judi Lynn	Oct 2012	#18
I'm sure he's not worried.....	DeSwiss	Oct 2012	#22

Response to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Oct 4, 2012, 05:04 PM

Cleita (64,526 posts)

1. What's the point of a constitutional monarchy if the king still

behaves like a medieval war lord?

On eve of protest, King Abdullah dissolves parliament

1. What's the point of a constitutional monarchy if the king still

3. Parliamentary dissolution is a normal part of all constitutional monarchies. (nt)

5. Presidents can do it in some republics too. It's not always a bad thing.

6. Yep. It's one of the key differences between parliamentary and presidential systems.

34. Be nice if Pres. Obama could dissolve Congress.

8. Then there is no point to calling it a democracy of any sort if that's

9. Is it democratic when a british PM calls election right after a won war?

12. Or the legislative branch, depending on the particular country.

11. Ahh, yes, "American democracy is the only kind anywhere in the world."

13. Bit harsh.

15. Enh, provincial exceptionalism's common enough here that I lost patience with it awhile ago. (nt)

21. The only provincialism being displayed here is yours. n/t

24. +1000

32. but seriously

37. LOL, right. (nt)

17. Switzerland is democracy

20. Actually, I was thinking of real democracy, which doesn't exist, particularly here in America.

26. Under a parliamentary system, there are no set election dates

29. So shouldn't somebody other than the King be doing this?

30. It's always the Head of State who does it, who's usually a figurehead.

16. He can only do that with a divided congress, which we had in 2010.

19. I wouldn't have wanted it in reality because sometimes I feel if we

25. Well, they are part of the rules, the rule is if the two congresses can't decide...

28. I could have shared your fantasy except the reality is that if

35. The thing is anyone with sense would've known the House would be obstructionist...

23. So do you not consider Canada a democracy?

27. I have never known the Queen to dissolve parliament in Canada, Australia, New Zealand

31. In the first three countries it's done by the Governor General, a representative of the Queen

33. she has the power to do so in the UK

36. Yeah, and clubbing someone over the head...

4. What has he done to give you that impression?

7. because keeping up appearances is an important part of public relations scams? *nt

2. King Abdullah is actually a pretty progressive guy

10. The PNAC pushers soon may reap the ramifications of success.

14. King Abdullah on Jon Stewart just a week ago:

18. Thanks for posting the link from those of us who missed it! n/t

22. I'm sure he's not worried.....