Jordanian King Dissolves Parliament, Orders Electoral Reform
This week, Jordan’s King Abdullah II dissolved the lower half of Parliament, ordered his government to amend an unpopular election law and told them to prepare for general elections two years early.
AFP/File/Filippo Monteforte
“We instruct the government to immediately start planning for parliamentary elections, which should be transparent and fair, reflecting Jordan’s reform drive,” the King told Prime Minister Nader Dahabi in a letter, a palace statement said.
“We instruct you to take all necessary measures for that purpose, including amending the elections law and developing all aspects of the electoral process.”
The electoral law being mentioned refers to a controversial 1993 one-person-one-vote law that has been unpopular with many Jordanians since its beginning. Most say it led to those with tribal affiliations to become lawmakers, rather than MPs who represent the population.
In other words, in tribal areas, MPs would represent a few thousand people, compared to the 90,000 Amman citizens represented by only one MP.
Since elections in 2007, critics have accused those elected of not tackling issues close to Jordanians, such as poverty and unemployment.
This is the second time King Abdullah II dissolved Parliament early since inheriting the throne ten years ago.
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Tags: King Abdullah II, politics
