AMMAN:
Jordan’s reasonable Islamist opposition get together made notable advances in Tuesday’s parliamentary election, in response to preliminary outcomes revealed on Wednesday, buoyed by public discontent over Israel’s struggle in Gaza.
The Islamist Motion Entrance (IAF) benefitted from a brand new electoral legislation designed to reinforce the position of political events within the 138-seat parliament, though tribal and pro-government teams stay dominant. The IAF, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, secured roughly one-fifth of the seats below the revised electoral system, which, for the primary time, reserved 41 seats for political events, in response to preliminary information obtained by Reuters and confirmed by each impartial and official sources.
“The Jordanian individuals have positioned their belief in us by voting for us. This new stage will increase the get together’s duty in the direction of the nation and its residents,” mentioned Wael al Saqqa, chief of the IAF, in an announcement to Reuters.
This success marks a turning level for the Islamists, granting them a complete of 31 seats — their largest illustration since parliamentary life resumed in 1989, following a long time of martial legislation.
“The election displays a need for change, and many citizens weren’t essentially Islamists however have been looking for another, having grown uninterested in the established order,” remarked Murad Adailah, head of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Islamists, Jordan’s solely vital grassroots opposition, recommended the authorities for refraining from interfering within the election course of. Adailah characterised their victory as a “well-liked referendum” supporting their platform, which incorporates backing the militant Palestinian group Hamas, their ideological ally, and advocating for the termination of Jordan’s peace treaty with Israel.
In a rustic the place anti-Israel sentiment is widespread, the Islamists have led a number of the largest regional protests in assist of Hamas, which their opponents declare has boosted their recognition. The election represents a modest step ahead in King Abdullah’s efforts to speed up political reforms and defend Jordan from regional conflicts.
Regardless of the king’s push for reforms, most energy stays with him below Jordan’s structure, as he retains the authority to nominate governments and dissolve parliament. Nonetheless, the king hopes the brand new electoral legislation will encourage the event of political events able to forming majority governments.
The present voting system continues to favour sparsely populated tribal and rural areas over the extra densely populated cities, that are dominated by Jordanians of Palestinian descent—areas which are Islamist strongholds and extremely politicised.
Turnout in Tuesday’s election, amongst Jordan’s 5.1 million eligible voters, was low at 32.25%, a slight improve from 29% within the 2020 election.
The Muslim Brotherhood, working legally in Jordan since 1946, got here below suspicion following the Arab Spring, throughout which Islamist actions challenged established powers in a number of Arab nations.
