A Royal Decree was issued on Wednesday calling for holding elections for Jordan's House of Representatives in accordance with the law, according to a Royal Court statement.
The Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Independent Election Commission, Khaled Kalaldeh, announced that parliamentary elections will be held on November 10, indicating that the commission began applying the provisions of the law.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Kalaldeh stressed that the commission determined in its executive plan all the necessary measures to preserve the health and safety of voters and candidates amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The commission continued its activities throughout the comprehensive lockdown between March and June, and has completed the preparations and requirements of the elections. It implemented a simulation of a number of procedures, according to the committee’s sources.
The resolution to hold parliamentary elections imposes specific constitutional scenarios that control the decision to dissolve the parliament, after which the government should resign. This scenario forces the legislative and executive branches to deal with the transitional phase with limited powers.
Political sources indicated that a royal decree may be issued to dissolve the parliament no later than September 27, two months before the elections which ensures the equal chances to all candidates.
Observers believe that setting the date of the elections came in the context of preparing to face social and economic challenges caused by the pandemic, foremost of which was the approval of the budget law for the fiscal year 20/21.
The current parliament has a 17 percent approval rate in the periodic polls of the national samples.
Recent reports indicated that the current parliament’s mandate will be extended given the country's inability to hold elections due to the pandemic, which created a nationwide controversy.
Political circles have exerted efforts to extend the mandate of the current parliament, with the aim of keeping the current government of Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz. However, this was not welcomed by the royal court which stressed on several occasions the importance of adhering to constitutional deadlines.
Meanwhile, political parties have not announced their decision whether to partake in the elections or not, amid expectations that most political forces, including the Islamic Action Front Party, the political arm of the unauthorized Muslim Brotherhood, would participate.
However, observers believe the crisis of teachers’ union and its repercussions will cast a shadow over the elections, after judicial decisions were issued to close the union for two years, dissolve its council, and arrest its members.
