Results of Jordan's Parliamentary Elections
November 4, 1997

Candidates unaffiliated with formal political parties registered a big victory in Jordan's legislative elections for the 13th parliament this week. The predominantly tribal rural areas saw higher voter turnouts, whereas some degree of apathy was evident in the more urban areas, particularly in Amman and Zarqa. The overall voter turnout was 44 percent of eligible voters, higher than the 1989 elections (41 percent) but lower than the that of 1993 (47 percent). Whereas 72 percent of registered voters did vote in Tafileh, only 26 percent of those registered in Amman's second district and 29 percent of those in Zarqa cast their vote (as compared with 66% and 67% respectively in 1993).

The 13th parliament includes a handful of opposition figures from the left, led mostly by Christian candidates; another handful of opposition figures are Islamists who ran for office despite the official boycott by their political party (the Islamic Action Front).

Despite claims by some opposition figures, the fairness of the elections is not in doubt. Other than the fact that well-known vocal opposition members retained their seats (e.g. Khalil Haddadin, Nazih Ammarin), the pro-government National Constitution Party--which had failed to field more than 11 candidates though it was still expected to fare well--showed poor results, winning only two seats due to tribal, rather than party, affiliations.

Another significant occurrence was the defeat of Toujan Faisal, the only female member of parliament, representing the Circassian community (ethnic seat). Analysts attribute that defeat to several factors: (a) the decision by the Circassian minority to rally behind a less controversial candidate; (b) division of the opposition votes among other well-known candidates running for the Christian seat in that district; (c) Ms. Faisal's campaigning on behalf of other candidates she favors, at the expense of her own campaign.

The notion that the government worked to produce a parliament that is more sympathetic to its position is incorrect. The decision of the Muslim Brotherhood leadership to boycott the elections was taken in response to pressures from its constituency, thus making it more difficult for that leadership to reverse its decision. It would be simplistic to write-off the newly-elected parliament as merely pro-government. The 13th parliament includes some vocal and well-seasoned opposition members who are expected to fiercely oppose government initiatives. The government will also have to contend with a very strong, mostly Islamic-led opposition within parliament for the leadership of the opposition forces. Thus, opposition from both within and outside of parliament is expected to be more vocal and energetic than usual.

Contrary to what some analysts have posited, the results of the November 4, 1997 elections are by no means a negative reflection on Jordan's democratization march. They are rather the direct result of a freely-adopted decision by the largest opposition force not to partake in the elections as well as a reflection of the Jordanian political culture in which tribal affiliations still play a major part, superseding affiliations with political parties. The political reform process in Jordan is an evolutionary one, a process that is irreversible, not without challenges, but still alive and well.

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