Jordan's Parliamentary Elections: A New Era of Political Participation
Voting commenced in the Jordanian capital, Amman, for the twentieth House of Representatives, under a new election law designed to boost political action. The law has increased the number of House members from 130 to 138, with 41 seats allocated to political parties. Voting began at 7:00 a.m. and will conclude at 7:00 p.m. without any extensions, according to the Independent Election Commission.
Despite the new electoral framework, the elections have not garnered significant attention from the public, largely due to the economic challenges facing the nation. Over 5.1 million Jordanians are eligible to participate in this election, amid widespread discontent fueled by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The current economic climate, characterized by a public debt nearing $50 billion and an unemployment rate of 21%, has overshadowed the electoral process.
With 937 candidates vying for seats across 12 governorates, 38 political parties are participating through 25 party lists. The Islamic Action Front, representing the Muslim Brotherhood, is among the notable opposition parties. The outcome of this election could be influenced by the public's reaction to the Gaza conflict, with the Front hoping to leverage this sentiment to secure a stronger presence in the House. Security measures are stringent, with 54,000 personnel deployed across 1,649 polling stations to ensure a smooth voting process.
