Jordanians vote in parliamentary elections boycotted by Islamists

Tue, 09 Nov 2010

Amman - Jordanians headed to the polls Tuesday in parliamentary elections boycotted by the main opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, and its political arm, the Islamic Action Front (IAF).

A total of 763 candidates, including 143 women, are vying for the lower house's 120 seats, 12 of which are reserved for women under a quota system.

Official statistics indicated that 86 candidates represented political parties, but analysts said tribal, family and factional affiliations would be the crucial factor in the polls, in which, the Interior Ministry said, 2.37 million Jordanians were eligible to vote.

Turnout would be the main challenge facing the government of Prime Minister Samir Rifai. It was expected to be low amid dissatisfaction with the National Assembly and a sluggish economy.

The IAF, the left-leaning Popular Unity Party and independent politicians have not only boycotted the vote, but they have also campaigned throughout the country to urge citizens not to vote.

They cited the government's failure to adopt a modern election law providing proportional representation as part of a package of political reforms.

Polling stations are to be open from 7 am (0500 GMT) to 7 pm with election authorities in each province having the right to extend the process by up to two hours if voters are waiting at closing time.

The government has allowed more than 2,500 local and foreign observers to monitor the polling process, Elections Committee spokesman Samih Maayta said.

The US-based National Democratic Institute said Monday that it had prepared 61 accredited observers from 18 countries to monitor the voting in various parts of Jordan.

Source: The Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/352626,parliamentary-elections-boycotted-islamists.html.