AMMAN:
Jordan’s moderate Islamist opposition party made notable gains in Tuesday’s parliamentary elections, according to initial results revealed Wednesday, buoyed by public discontent with Israel’s war in Gaza.
The Islamist Action Front (IAF) benefited from a new electoral law designed to strengthen the role of political parties in the 138-seat parliament, although tribal and pro-government groups remain dominant. The IAF, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, won about a fifth of the seats thanks to the revised electoral system, which for the first time reserved 41 seats for political parties, according to preliminary data obtained by Reuters and confirmed by both countries. independent and official sources.
“The Jordanian people placed their trust in us by voting for us. This new step increases the party’s responsibility towards the nation and its citizens,” IAF chief Wael al Saqqa said in a statement to Reuters.
This success marks a turning point for the Islamists, granting them a total of 31 seats, their largest representation since the resumption of parliamentary life in 1989, after decades of martial law.
“The election reflects a desire for change, and many voters were not necessarily Islamist but were looking for an alternative, tired of the status quo,” noted Murad Adailah, leader of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Islamists, the only significant popular opposition in Jordan, praised the authorities for refraining from interfering in the electoral process. Adailah called their victory a “popular referendum” supporting their agenda, which includes support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, their ideological ally, and advocacy for ending the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel.
In a country where anti-Israel sentiment is widespread, Islamists have led some of the largest regional protests in support of Hamas, which their opponents say has boosted their popularity. The election represents a modest step forward in King Abdullah’s efforts to accelerate political reforms and protect Jordan from regional conflicts.
Despite the king’s reform efforts, most power remains with him under the Jordanian constitution, as he retains the power to appoint governments and dissolve parliament. The king hopes, however, that the new electoral law will encourage the development of political parties capable of forming majority governments.
The current electoral system continues to favor sparsely populated tribal and rural areas over more densely populated cities dominated by Jordanians of Palestinian origin – areas that are Islamist strongholds and highly politicized.
Turnout in Tuesday’s election, among Jordan’s 5.1 million eligible voters, was low at 32.25%, a slight increase from 29% in the 2020 election.
The Muslim Brotherhood, which has operated legally in Jordan since 1946, came under suspicion following the Arab Spring, during which Islamist movements challenged established powers in several Arab countries.
