AMMAN // Jordanians voted yesterday for the first time since the Arab Spring uprisings began in 2010, testing King Abdullah II's unprecedented political campaign to allay public frustration and encourage voting.
The king had vigorously urged Jordan's 2.3 million eligible voters to cast their ballots for the 150-seat lower house of parliament, in part to repudiate the Muslim Brotherhood, which called for an election boycott.
The country's independent elections commission reported a 56.5 per cent turnout late yesterday. Scheduled to close by 7pm, authorities extended the deadline by an hour to allow more people to vote.
The voter turnout was high enough to be trumpeted as a success by the government, political observers said.
"Voter turnout was contrary to [low] expectations despite the calls for the boycott," said Mohammed Sweidan, an editor at Jordan's Al Ghad daily newspaper, adding that he would not have been surprised if the turnout had been below 50 per cent.
He said the Islamist opposition's attempt to rally Jordanians to boycott the ballot seemed "unable to influence" many voters, although he attributed high turnout in rural areas to tribal and family influences loyal to the monarchy.
Pro-monarchy figures and influential businessmen were expected to sweep the elections, which saw more than 1,400 candidates competing. That could blow back in the form of more frustration with King Abdullah, who has struggled to reinvigorate an economy saddled by corruption allegations and about Dh37 billion in debt.
For instance, it could galvanise the small but persistent nationwide protests that have flared for more than two years, calling for curbs to his power and efforts to tackle corruption. The protesters have grown angrier and bolder with their demands from the monarchy. In November, thousands took to the streets in the capital, Amman, to protest petrol price hikes.
The opposition dismissed yesterday's election after mounting a campaign of protests and strikes.
"This is a sham election whose results will only erode the credibility of the future parliament," said Zaki Bani Rusheid, deputy head of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Last Friday, the group rallied against the ballot in downtown Amman. Attendance, however, was less than 2,000, far below the turnouts at other Islamist-led rallies.
Analysts say the popularity of Jordan's Islamists has dropped recently, partly because of concern over the unrest that has affected Egypt under its new Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi.
King Abdullah, for his part, has been meeting with various activists from his secular opposition, requesting them not to join the Muslim Brotherhood in their boycott. Those at the meetings said the monarch also warned them of a potential power grab by Jordan's Islamists.
The Muslim Brotherhood rejects the accusations, saying the group supports parliamentary rule, which they believe has consistently been undermined by the authorities.
Labib Kamhawi, an independent analyst who lives in Amman, criticised the government for attempting to exploit a fear of Islamists, which he described as an attempt to weaken the Muslim Brotherhood by dividing it. "By doing this, the regime is actually empowering the extremists within the group by marginalising the moderates," he said.
But the king has pressed ahead in other areas, giving a number of media interviews and penning editorials explaining his reform agenda.
His government also is expected to receive a financial boost from $5bn in aid pledged in 2011 by the Gulf Cooperation Council. On Tuesday, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development agreed to contribute Dh4.6bn to that fund, the UAE's state news agency Wam reported.
King Abdullah also has overseen political reforms in the past year, including forming the independent elections commission and altering the country's election law. The reforms include having the new legislature choose the prime minister, making it responsible for much of the nation's day-to-day affairs, and allow greater freedom of opinion and assembly. Foreign policy and security matters, however, remain in the hands of the king.
Critics contend that the changes to that election law were superficial. They say the law hinders the development of political parties and gives unfair advantage to the monarchy's rural-tribal supporters in parliament over Jordan's Palestinians, who form the majority of country's 6 million population and are the backbone for Muslim Brotherhood support.
"There are no agendas in candidates' campaigns. Their campaigns are emotionally driven, and are based more on personal relationships than they are on constructive programmes," said Sheikh Talal Al Madi, a former senator from a tribal area.
That sentiment was shared by Atallah Salim, 46, a government employee living in Amman who moonlights as a taxi driver to support four children. He boycotted the poll out of frustration.
"Everyone knows this isn't a serious election, and that's why I don't care about it," he said. "What we want is real democracy with leaders who actually know what we think. This election won't bring this."
hnaylor@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by Suha Philip Ma'ayeh and Reuters
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Business Insights
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Poacher
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
CREW
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Final scores
18 under: Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)
- 14: Jason Scrivener (AUS)
-13: Rory McIlroy (NIR)
-12: Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP)
-11: David Lipsky (USA), Marc Warren (SCO)
-10: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Chris Paisley (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
START-UPS%20IN%20BATCH%204%20OF%20SANABIL%20500'S%20ACCELERATOR%20PROGRAMME
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