Jordan backtracks on electoral law

“Surveys conducted by the government itself show the Islamists’ power is something between 15 and 20 per cent, maximum,” she said.

 

“What they [the government] are fighting … is the more moderate and more democratic ones.”

 

A number of Jordanian groups had trained election monitors for the proceedings, but the government has refused to open voter registration to scrutiny by independent observers.

 

Many accuse the government of unfair practices, including transferring voters to areas where their candidates need greater support.

 

The Muslim Brotherhood’s Islamic Action Front, Jordan’s only significant opposition party, is fielding a mere 22 candidates for 110 seats in the election, saying it is disillusioned with the process.

 

The group, which has much support in urban areas, especially among Jordan’s naturalised Palestinian population, boycotted municipal elections in July, saying the government was using soldiers to interfere with the vote.

 

The party alleged that the military’s voters were being directed toward centres where Islamic Action Front candidates were running and casting votes in favour of rival candidates.