Updating the local governance law in Jordan marks a pivotal moment to test the seriousness of transforming towards modern local governance, capable of achieving development and enhancing trust between the citizen and the state. However, this update loses its value if it does not start from a true reformative philosophy, which transcends narrow calculations or the reproduction of previous imbalances. First and foremost, it should be emphasized that legislation must not be a tool for political exclusion or an indirect way to reshape the local scene by excluding specific currents or personalities. Instead, it should provide a fair framework that ensures equal opportunities and is governed by the will of the voters and the competence of the candidates.
Moreover, the essence of the law should stem from an urgent national need for advancement and progress, not merely as a reaction or a formal treatment of past experiences. Local governance is not just an organizational structure, but a developmental tool that requires clear vision, role integration, and the ability to respond to the challenges of the local reality. Hence, any ambiguity in the distribution of powers or continued overlap will weaken the desired developmental impact.
In the same context, the relationship between the municipality and the citizen should be redefined on the basis that the municipality is a developmental service entity, not an authority for revenue collection or monitoring the "pocket of the citizen". A fair law is one that balances the state's right to collect revenues and the citizen's right to access quality services at a reasonable cost, within a framework of transparency and accountability.
Among the essential issues that require decisive handling is setting clear and strict criteria for candidacy in local council and provincial council memberships, ensuring a minimum level of scientific and administrative competence. It is no longer acceptable to merely require "literacy" in the face of the complexity of municipal work and the interwoven financial, planning, and legal files. Raising the level of local representation may require deeper legislative reviews, and possibly constitutional ones, to ensure that those who take on public affairs possess the tools for understanding, analysis, and decision-making.
Furthermore, the law should be based on true decentralization, granting local units clear financial and administrative powers, coupled with effective control systems based on performance, not bureaucratic complexity. This aligns with adopting planning based on evidence, digital transformation, and involving citizens in setting their priorities, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the local decision and reducing wastage.
The desired local governance law is not merely a technical text, but a miniature social contract between the state and society at the local level. Therefore, its success is measured by its ability to empower local communities, achieve justice in service distribution, build an administration that is close to the people, effective in its performance, and fair in its decisions. Ultimately, any reform that does not place the citizen at its core, nor enhances efficiency and integrity, will remain merely a good text on paper, without a real impact on reality.
