Electoral Reform in Jordan, 03 February 2010
Jordan risks democratic stagnation if it misses this opportunity for substantive reform
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“Jordan risks democratic stagnation if it misses this opportunity for
substantive reform“
Jordan’s Prime Minister Samir Rifai told reporters on Sunday that new draft
election legislation will be ready in two months’ time. This will form the basis
for regional and parliamentary elections announced by King Abdullah II in
November 2009 after he dissolved the Lower House of Parliament and initiated
a de-centralisation process which is set to lead to the creation of new elected
regional bodies.
“If this opportunity for substantive reform is missed, Jordan risks continued
democratic stagnation.” warns Democracy Reporting International’s director,
Michael Meyer-Resende. “More elected bodies only mean more democracy if
elections are genuine and based on laws that meet international standards.”