• News & Analysis
    • All News & Analysis
    • American Values & Politics
    • Sharia Governance & Values
    • US Hate Groups & Crimes
    • Overseas Extremism
    • US Islamist Activity
    • Fact Sheets & Special Reports
    • Subscribe
  • Intelligence Network
  • Films
  • Activism
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • Contact Us
Menu
  • News & Analysis
    • All News & Analysis
    • American Values & Politics
    • Sharia Governance & Values
    • US Hate Groups & Crimes
    • Overseas Extremism
    • US Islamist Activity
    • Fact Sheets & Special Reports
    • Subscribe
  • Intelligence Network
  • Films
  • Activism
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • Contact Us
Search
Close
Donate
Menu
Home Uncategorized

Election Success for Jordan’s Islamists: Cause for Concern?

by Meira Svirsky
September 25, 2016
Reading Time: 3min read

Jordanian Islamists will return to parliament after a 10-year hiatus following an election on September 20. It‘s not yet clear how many seats the Islamist bloc will take, however, their return to office does not necessarily mean problems for the monarchy.

The Islamists boycotted the polls in 2010 and 2013 arguing that the electoral system worked against their interests. A change in the voting system led the group to stand for election this time around.

In an election that would seem odd to most Westerners, some 226 parties competed for just 130 seats in the legislature.

The election took place in the shadow of rising unemployment, fears of a spillover of fighting from Syria and Iraq and the hosting of myriad refugees.

Initial results suggest the National Coalition for Reform bloc (a joint list with the Islamist party, the Islamic Action Front, as the largest member) will take some 13-16 seats. The bloc is likely to be the largest opposition bloc in the new parliament.

THe question is whether or not this return poses a threat to King Abdullah.

Initially there does not appear to be a direct threat – indeed this might even create greater stability in the Hashemite kingdom.

The vote was for the lower house, whose main functions are to pass laws, approve the state budget and show confidence in the government. However, the upper house in parliament has seniority and can block legislation that emanates from the lower house. The upper house and government are appointed by Abdullah, an absolute monarch.

The king also controls the appointment of judges and intelligence officials without requiring governmental approval.

The monarch derives his power from tribal loyalty and some officials from the Islamic Action Front are members of these tribes. There is a common interest, therefore, in Islamist participations in the elections.

Islamists hoped the Arab Spring coupled with the boycott of the previous elections would increase their popularity, while diminishing the popularity of the king. However, with time, they understood Abdullah remained strong, while they were losing ground.

Simultaneously, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Libya were in decline.

Jordan’s Islamists understood they now have the opportunity to return to the political fore to be a more fighting opposition.

Abdullah told the U.N. General Assembly last week the election was a true victory given current events in Jordan and the surrounding countries. Both he and Queen Rania said they welcomed the participation of Islamists in the election.

Initial analysis suggests Abdullah is the big winner here because Islamist participation in the elections shows they realize they have to participate in a system of government which is monarch-dominated. Essentially, they have given the monarchy a renewed vote of confidence.

WIth the Islamists in parliament, the king will also be able to better monitor Islamist activities in the country.

All in all, at least in the short term, King Abdullah can heave a sigh of relief, particularly as the Islamist bloc was tipped to win as many as 20 seats. And while the terror threat is never far away from Jordan, on the political level, Abdullah knows he has stability for some time to come.

 

Ran Meir is Clarion Project's Arab Affairs Analyst

 
 
Tags: Muslim BrotherhoodNews Analysis
ShareTweetSendSend

Related Posts

Former al-Qaeda propagandist Jesse Morton, center (Photo_ Flickr/New America)
Preventing Violent Extremism

Former Al-Qaeda Recruiter: Can Secularism Be Salvaged?

April 19, 2020
Iranian protester confronts a regime security officer. Why the Democrat silence on support for the anti-regime protesters? (Photo: AFP via Getty Images)
Uncategorized

Democrat Silence on Support for Iranian Protesters

January 14, 2020
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif listens as Iran's President Hassan Rouhani speaks at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly September 25, 2019, in New York. (Photo: DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images)
Uncategorized

US Denies Visa to Iranian FM Zarif & Other Fallouts of the Soleimani Hit

January 7, 2020
Members of the Brooklyn Hancock Street Bloods gang (Photo: Wikipedia Commons/Og rahim rashad/CC4.0)
Uncategorized

NY Muslim Patrol Bullies Get Bullied Back by the Bloods

December 17, 2019
Rescue crews at the site of the Jersey City anti-Semitic attack (Photo: BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)
American Values & Politics

Anti-Semitic Attack Leaves 4 Victims Dead in New Jersey

December 11, 2019
Tens of thousands of Lebanese demonstrators in the center of Beirut in Martyrs' Square October 27, 2019 (Photo: AFP via Getty Images)
Uncategorized

Protests in Lebanon, Iraq Point to End of Iranian Influence

October 28, 2019

Discussion about this post

Most Read

Dark Days for America? Big Tech Wields Cudgel on Conservative Voices

5 days ago

From Street Thugs to the High-Brow Salon Circles, the Right to Free Speech Is Increasingly Under Attack

3 months ago

A Look at What’s Ahead for 2021

2 weeks ago

Pakistan: Top Cleric Says Israel Belongs to Jews

3 weeks ago

Iran Establishing New Facts on the Ground to Leverage Biden Administration

1 week ago

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

By entering your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

contact us

[email protected]
1-888-610-2221

locate us

2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Suite 395, Washington, DC 20006

follow us

Youtube
Facebook-f
Twitter

News & Analysis

  • American Values & Politics
  • Sharia Governance & Values
  • US Hate Groups & Crimes
  • US Islamist Activity
  • Overseas Extremism
  • Fact Sheets & Special Reports
  • Subscribe

Intelligence Network

  • About Clarion Intel Network
  • Fuqra Files
  • US Extremists Map

Films

  • Iranium
  • Honor Diaries
  • Faithkeepers
  • Kids
  • Short Films

Activism

  • Preventing Violent Extremism
  • Exposing Foreign Funding
  • Our Speakers

about us

  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • Advisory Board
  • Partnerships
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
  • Donor Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
© Clarion Project Inc. 2020 — All Rights Reserved
501(c)(3) EIN #20-5845679
Menu
  • News & Analysis
    • All News & Analysis
    • American Values & Politics
    • Sharia Governance & Values
    • US Hate Groups & Crimes
    • Overseas Extremism
    • US Islamist Activity
    • Fact Sheets & Special Reports
    • Subscribe
  • Intelligence Network
  • Films
  • Activism
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • Contact Us
Search
Donate