Specialists: The Speech from the Throne reinforces the rule of law and promotes integrity and accountability
Amman5 min read
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The administrative messages contained in the Royal Speech from the Throne, at the opening of the third ordinary session of Parliament, emphasized the state’s approach to consolidating the rule of law and strengthening integrity and transparency in public sector institutions. It stressed that public office is a national responsibility and not a personal privilege, and that assuming leadership positions is linked to accountability and commitment to the public interest, far from influence and nepotism.
His Majesty King Abdullah II affirmed that there is no immunity for anyone who abuses their position, whoever they may be, in a message that reflects the importance of enshrining the principle of equality before the law, strengthening confidence in state institutions, and establishing an administrative culture based on efficiency, justice, and impartiality, making service to the citizen and the achievement of the public interest the primary standard for evaluating the performance of officials and public employees.
In this context, the former Secretary-General of the Prime Ministry, Dr. Haitham Hijazi, said in an interview with «$» that His Majesty the King's assertion that “there is no immunity for anyone who abuses their position, whoever they may be” places the state before a fundamental principle in building a modern state, which is that public office is a national responsibility and an ethical and legal trust, not a personal privilege or a means to acquire influence and social status.
He added that this message reaffirms the correct relationship between authority and responsibility, as public positions were not created to grant their occupants privileges above the law, but to enable them to serve citizens, protect their interests, and achieve justice among them. He pointed out that the true prestige of the state does not derive its strength from the authority of officials, but from the strength of its institutions, the integrity of its administration, and its ability to apply the law to everyone without exception or favoritism.
Hijazi explained that this approach is linked, from the perspective of modern public administration, to the principles of good governance, transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity, which are the foundations upon which efficient administration is based, and through which trust between the citizen and state institutions is built.
He indicated that the official's realization that the position is a mandate rather than an honor, and that their powers are coupled with their responsibilities, contributes to establishing an institutional culture that makes serving the citizen the criterion for success, rather than the scale of power or influence. He emphasized the importance of translating these contents into concrete practices that enhance accountability, combat the abuse of power, reward efficiency and achievement, and prioritize the public interest over personal interests.
For his part, public administration expert and former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Public Sector Development, Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Al-Qudah, said in an interview with «Al-Rai» that the messages delivered by His Majesty the King in the Speech from the Throne regarding public office and the rule of law carry important administrative and institutional dimensions. They are not limited to emphasizing the ethics of public office, but reaffirm the philosophy of public administration upon which the Jordanian state should be based in the coming phase.
He pointed out that the speech carries five main administrative implications. The first is the transition from a culture of privilege to a culture of responsibility, considering that public office is not a social status, administrative prominence, or personal privilege, but a national responsibility linked to serving the citizen and achieving the public interest. He noted that the second implication is the consolidation of the principle of equality before the law without social or administrative exceptions, explaining that His Majesty the King’s affirmation that the law knows no name, position, or influence moves the rule of law from a general constitutional principle to a practical standard for evaluating the performance of the state and its institutions, so that procedures or decisions do not change based on a person’s status, relationships, or influence.
He indicated that the third implication is the consolidation of functional neutrality as a guarantee of justice and citizen trust, as the public employee should work to serve the state, the citizen, and the public interest, not to serve a person, group, party, region, or influential figure. Furthermore, the quality of service, the speed of completing transactions, and the application of the law should be equal regardless of the identity of the service recipient or their relationships.
He emphasized that the loyalty of the public employee must be to the constitution, the law, the institution, and the national interest, not to individuals, officials, or narrow interests.
As for the fourth implication, according to Al-Qudah, it is to redefine the concept of administrative authority, so that the powers granted to the official are a means to make decisions and achieve the public goals defined by the law, not a tool to achieve personal interests, impose influence, or protect cronies. He emphasized that authority is a trust and a responsibility, not a privilege for the holder of the administrative position.
He added that the fifth implication is the transition from messages and directives to institutional practices, as it is not enough to demand integrity and neutrality from the employee without providing an administrative system that ensures their application, through fairness in appointment and promotion, clarity of powers and responsibilities, promotion of transparency and accountability, protection of whistleblowers, and linking performance evaluation to results, service quality, and citizen satisfaction.
