AMMAN — Jordan’s mainstream
Islamists said Wednesday that the current political situation in the country
and the latest changes to the Constitution were behind a decision to boycott
local polls slated for March.
اضافة اعلان
The Islamic Action Front (IAF), the
political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, announced late Wednesday its decision
not to take part in governorate and municipal elections, including Amman’s
municipal council, set for March 22.
In a statement shared on its platforms and
mainstream media following an IAF executive bureau meeting, the group charged
the government of pressuring the party into withdrawing from the race by
creating conditions similar to those preceding the 2007 and 2020 elections
“which were rigged”, and cited constitutional amendments that changed the
nature of the political system towards an “absolute monarchy that compromises
the general mandate of the government”.
The amendments were endorsed by the Lower
House by an overwhelming majority of 94 votes, out of the total 130 deputies.
The IAF accused the government of taking
advantage of the recommendations of the
Royal Committee to Modernize the Political System, comprising more than 90 members from across the board, to
pass controversial amendments “that contradict with the spirit of reform”.
The Islamists also cited “repressive
measures” taken by authorities, including arrests of political activists
protesting deals with Israel, including the natural gas agreement and the more
recent declaration of intent over a deal under which Jordan will export
electricity to Israel in return for desalinated sea water.
“Those who look closely at the current
situation will realize that the general public and the cadres of the party are
feeling disappointed due to the negative practices of the establishment and the
continued harassment and political pressures that would undermine a conducive
environment to hold the elections.”
IAF Secretary General Murad Al-Adayleh said
Wednesday that the government cannot have it all; suppressing the party and
expecting it to be part of the game. He charged that the increasingly strict
security measures are ruining chances of partisan participant in elections.
IAF spokesperson Thabet Al-Assaf said in
remarks to
Jordan News that the party was initially willing to run in the
upcoming elections but the “political situation and tightening security grip
are not encouraging. We see no real reform and the statement issued sounds the
alarm against this approach.”
Adayleh said the suspension of MP Hassan
Al-Riyati’s membership for two years, following a headline-grabbing brawl with
other deputies, was part of a campaign targeting Islamists, since the lawmaker
is a member of the IAF’s Lower House bloc, Al-Islah (reform).
Former deputy prime minister and veteran
lawmaker Mamdouh Al-Abbadi said that the government must be embarrassed now and
in an “unpleasant situation”, after the Islamists “threw the towel”.
“Let me remind you that the IAF represents
the strongest and the oldest political group and the decision came at a time
when the government is calling for active political parties’ participation in
the political process.”
He believes that the Islamist group has leverage through
its latest position and is likely to maintain the street’s favorable view.
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