Municipalities in Zarqa, Karak governorates will be merged next week
By Khalid Dalal

AMMAN — Municipalities in the Zarqa and Karak governorates are the next on the government's list to be merged, a senior state official said on Monday.
“As of probably next week, the merger will be implemented in both governorates,” Abdul Razzaq Tbeishat, minister of municipal, rural and environmental affairs said.

“The 14 municipalities in Zarqa will be brought down to five and the 36 municipalities in Karak will be merged to nine,” he said, adding that the decision regarding Zarqa and Karak is expected to be taken in the Cabinet's meeting on Tuesday evening.

In early July, the government unveiled a plan to restructure the municipal sector by merging many of the country's 328 municipalities.

The process in Zarqa and Karak will be the same as it was for Balqa, Jerash, Ajloun, Madaba, Irbid and Tafileh governorates, said Tbeishat.

“The mayors of Zarqa and Karak will continue as the mayors of the greater Zarqa and Karak municipalities, while other mayors in the governorates will be appointed by the ministry,” said the minister.

However, any mayor who submits a resignation will be replaced by an appointed official, he added.

The municipal sector is saddled with huge debts, totalling JD64 million, in addition to uncollected fees, estimated at JD28 million.

The merger in Zarqa is expected to further aggravate the ties between the government and the Islamic Action Front (IAF). The IAF is the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the merger in Zarqa will include the Islamist strongholds of Zarqa and Ruseifa municipalities. Islamists also maintain a presence in Karak Municipality.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ali Abul Ragheb met on Monday with a group of municipal officials while visiting some newly-merged municipalities in Balqa, Ajloun and Jerash governorates.

“The prime minister urged the municipal officials to enhance the services offered to citizens,” said the minister, adding that citizens all over the Kingdom will notice the difference in municipal services after the merger.