Jordan's Islamist opposition rejects political dialogue, says government not serious

By Jamal Halaby, The Associated Press – Mar 10, 2011

AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan's powerful Islamist opposition threatened Thursday to boycott a political reform dialogue called by King Abdullah II, with one of its leaders saying the government is not serious about change.

The development could deprive the Islamic Action Front, Jordan's largest opposition party, of any voice in the reforms. The party also boycotted last November's parliamentary elections.

Like much of the Middle East, Jordan has seen opposition protests calling for political change in the past two months. The demonstrations have not threatened the monarchy but are calling for the king to relinquish some powers.

In response, U.S.-allied King Abdullah urged political parties this week to participate in an "active" national dialogue to widen freedoms and public participation in the decision making. The king said the parties should propose specific plans for election reforms.

But Zaki Bani Ersheid, head of the Islamic Front's political office, said Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit is intentionally "undermining" the opposition's main proposal to elect the prime minister, who is now appointed by the king.

"We're not willing to engage in a dialogue for the sake of dialogue," Bani Ersheid told The Associated Press. "We will not participate in this farce."

Bani Ersheid called on the king to head the dialogue because al-Bakhit "is not credible and not serious about reforms, given his past record."

He said the Islamic Front will hold rallies in public spaces across Jordan on Friday, replacing the street protests, to press its demand for changes.

Recently, al-Bakhit named a state committee he said will work with the country's political forces to change a controversial election law that critics say favor the king's conservative Bedouin loyalists.

Al-Bakhit also asked Jordan's fragmented 34 political parties to join into two or three groupings to allow for improved competition in parliamentary elections. He said the majority leader can form a Cabinet.

He has said amending laws will take until the end of the year.

However, the Islamic Front, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood Movement, and other critics say the changes must be immediate.

Bani Ersheid said the king must be stripped of his power of dismissing Cabinets and the parliament, the only elected body in Jordan's government.

He also called Thursday for a quick dissolution of the parliament and the Cabinet and for parliamentary polls to be held under a new election law. He said the majority leader can then form a Cabinet.

He said a strong parliament will ensure a proper check and balance of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of power.

Military and other courts functioning under the remnants of an emergency law revoked in 1993 must also be immediately abolished, he added.

The Islamic Front accuses al-Bakhit of rigging parliamentary elections during his previous post as prime minister in 2005-2007. The group also sees the ex-army general as incapable of introducing democratic changes.

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