Jordanian parliamentary election, 2007

Parliamentary elections were held in Jordan on November 20 2007 [ [http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/08/21/afx4039798.html Jordan to hold legislative elections on Nov 20] Forbes, ] to elect representatives to the Chamber of Deputies of Jordan, which has 110 seats spread over 45 regional electoral districts, 3 closed tribal electoral districts and one national woman quota district. The Parliament guarantees a minimum of six seats for women, nine for Christians, and three for the Circassian and Chechen minorities. The biggest opposition party, the Islamic Action Front, stated it would contest the elections. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6271115.html Jordan's opposition party announces to take part in parliamentary polls] People's Daily, 26 September 2007]

Those elected constitute the 15th Chamber of Deputies. Electoral campaigning started one month before the elections.

Following the election, prime minister Marouf al-Bakhit and his cabinet resigned, as it normally followed in the Jordanian political system. King Abdullah II appointed Nader al-Dahabi on 2007-11-22 as the next prime minister to lead a new technocrat government. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7108151.stm BBC NEWS | Middle East | Jordanian king 'appoints new PM' ] ]

Candidates

885 candidates contested the elections, [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/53365F5E-CE19-4087-A269-4DB108D8425D.htm Jordan elects new parliament] Al Jazeera, 20 November 2007] including 199 women (the highest participation of female candidacy the country has seen to date). [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7102974.stm Jordan holds parliamentary vote] BBC News, 20 November 2007]

Traditionally elections have been fought by individuals standing as independents or under tribal support and not as partisans. Some of the candidates in this election have political affiliations, and some belong to political parties.

Most of the Islamic candidates contested under the Islamic Action Front (IAF) banner, with the party fielding 22 candidates. Only 6 of those 22 representing the IAF candidates won the elections [http://www.20112007.com/nwab_ikwan2007.html Candidate list] IAF website] , which is viewed as a major setback to the influence of the IAF inside Jordan. [ [http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C4C2EDD6-6E5E-4D0E-883D-D8CE4EA44948.htm Large election losses for Jordanian Islamists] Al Jazeera, 22 November 2007 ar icon]

Transparency

The IAF, who won 17 parliamentary seats in the previous elections in 2003, has demanded independent monitors.

Marouf al-Bakhit, the prime minister, turned down the request which he said would mean "that Jordan's transparency and electoral process is questionable". But as reports of "vote buying" spread, a local newspaper published a picture showing a voter allegedly receiving a sum of money from the aide of a candidate.

Results

Overall turnout was 54%, though it varied between 80% in rural areas and 28% in some constituencies in the capital. [ [http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/news/article_1375194.php/Jordans_poll_turnout_54_per_cent_vote-counting_starts__Roundup_ Jordan's poll turnout 54 per cent, vote-counting starts] Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 20 November 2007]

References

External links

* [http://www.cspd.gov.jo/cyrcls.htm Ministry of the Interior- Temporary Election Law 34 2001]