Jordan Times
Monday, November 19, 2007
Pre-election fever intensifies
in Salt, neighbouring areas
By Mohammad Ben Hussein
AMMAN - Pre-election fever in the city of Salt and neighbouring areas has
intensified, with candidates busy putting the final touches on their month-long
campaigns ahead of Tuesday’s parliamentary polls.
Election tents adorned with Jordanian flags and pictures of candidates have
become a common sight in this hilly city, while vehicles painted with campaign
materials have been turned into mobile billboards.
Major tribes are engaged in a series of meetings to form alliances that might
make a difference during the polls and some are trying to make sure they reap
the benefits of supporting other tribes during the July municipal elections.
Most of the major tribes have decided to field one candidate in order to avoid
dividing their members’ votes, but observers believe family support might not be
enough as a majority of influential tribes decided to enter the race.
A record 43 candidates will be competing in Balqa Governorate’s first district,
which was allocated six seats, including two for the Christians.
Incumbents Mahmoud Kharabsheh, Hashem Dabbas and Fakhri Iskandar will be up
against a long line of newcomers.
Former MP Abdul Latif Arabiat is the only candidate running on behalf of a
political party after he was chosen by the Islamic Action Front to represent the
Islamist movement in this city.
Four of the district’s seven deputies decided against running in the polls -
Raed Qaqeesh, Moustafa Shneikat, Ahmad Faouri and Ghaleb Zu’bi.
Observers say this development will make it harder to predict the results,
although Kharabsheh and Dabbas remain in position to secure seats in the
110-member Lower House.
Candidates did not resort to flashy slogans and instead opted to write their
names and the district they are competing in, which is seen as a clear sign of
reliance on the power of clan rather than political ideologies.
Four women are in the race in the hope of claiming one of the six seats
allocated for them as part of the quota system.
Meanwhile, in the Christian-dominated city of Fuheis, campaigning took a new
turn with rival candidates exercising mud-slinging in an effort to sway the
votes in their favour.
A copy of a newspaper article in a little known weekly, which talks about
corruption charges against one of the candidates, is circulating in the city,
angering his supporters.
Observers warn that election day in Fuheis and Salt could witness increased
tension among supporters.
Despite the fact that the city is home to the cement factory, which is being
blamed for pollution, most candidates chose to ignore this issue. Instead they
opted to address general issues such as economic problems, poverty,
unemployment, nepotism and corruption.