Jordanian parliamentary election, 2010

Jordan

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Jordan

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A Chamber of Deputies election was held in Jordan following the dissolution of the current parliament by King Abdullah II in November 2009. The election had not been due until November 2010.

Background

In 2009, King Abdullah II dissolved parliament on the grounds that it failed to "address the people's needs" only halfway through a four-year mandate, and also for "inept handling of legislation and failing to address poverty and unemployment."

In 1991, the National Accord was signed, 2 years after political parties were legalised and an election was called. In return for agreeing to work under the government instead of against it, political freedoms and legalisation of the parties was allowed. However, there have been allegations of repeated violations of the pact and attempts to undermine the election. An electoral law created in 1993, effectively gave the rural areas a larger representation at the expense of the urban areas and had in effect created sub-identities and split the country into Palestinian areas, most of whom have tended to side with the Islamic Action Front or leftist and pan-Arab nationalists, and Bedouin areas.

Candidates

There were 763 candidates in the election. Seventy-five percent of MP's in the previous legislature were running again.

Boycott

The main opposition, the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Islamic Action Front, announced on 30 July 2010 it would boycott the polls due to unfair election laws which gave undue weight to the rural, sparely populated areas, and other issues. The "one-man-one-vote" law was seen as "engineered to deprive the Islamic Action Front of votes." They also expelled five members for running in the election following a party decision to boycott the polls.

As a result of the boycotts, including the main opposition group, the poll was viewed with skepticism.

Opinion polls

The result was expected to be a predictable win for pro-government candidates and tribesmen with strong ties to the monarchy.

Controversy

Jordan was criticised for not allowing freedom of expression amidst arrests of those calling for a boycott of the election.

Election

A low voter turnout was expected, particularly amongst the Palestinian population after calls for a boycott and allegation of fraud. A turnout of 20%-40% was expected.

On election day, fighting between tribes loyal to different candidates led to at least 1 death and more injures.

A majority of the House was won by pro-government or tribal candidates that were seen as likely to support the government's agenda. Seventeen candidates were from opposition parties, excluding the IAF. Seventy-eight MPs were first time parliamentarians. The turnout was 53%.

Analysis

An Al Jazeera English anaylsis said that while the election may have succeeded in "manufacturing consent," the costs may be much higher in that it fomented an "atmosphere of mutual suspicion that undermines national unity and social cohesion at a time when Jordan needs to confront tremors of regional instability."