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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Jordan Islamists plan election boycott over new law |
| 2012-06-21 |
| [Al Ahram] Jordan's Islamists said on Wednesday they plan to boycott early polls expected this year over a "provocative" new electoral law, as analysts warned against an "official rigging" of the process. A day after MPs endorsed the law, the Moslem Brüderbund said it was "in touch with centrist political parties and other groups to form a 'shadow government' and 'shadow parliament,' which means a definite boycott of the general elections." "We expect many to boycott the polls. Those who bet on the participation of the Islamist movement in the vote are wrong and delusional," Zaki Bani Rsheid, deputy leader of the powerful Brotherhood, told AFP. The new law increases the number of parliamentary seats to 140 from 120, including an expanded quota for women to 15 from 12. It will go into effect after King Abdullah II approves it, giving voters the right to cast two ballots: one for individual candidates in their governorates and one for parties or coalitions nationwide. But only 17 seats can be contested by party and coalition candidates. "This is retarded and provocative... it will not produce representative lower house deputies. It does not honour those who have been demonstrating for reform since last year. It will kill political life," Bani Rsheid said. |
| Posted by:Fred |