AMMAN (AFP) – Jordanians will head to the polls today to vote for a new Parliament amid widespread frustrations over a lagging economy and the ongoing war in Gaza.
Just two days ahead of the vote, in a rare surge of violence, a Jordanian killed three Israeli guards at the border crossing between Jordan and the occupied West Bank.
The elections, which take place every four years, are the first to be held under a law passed in January 2022 that increased the overall number of seats in the House, reserved a higher number for women and lowered the minimum age for candidates.
Those running include representatives of major Jordanian tribes, centrists and pro-government candidates, but also independents, leftists and those belonging to the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood and the largest opposition party.
In a busy market in central Amman, where campaign posters were on display, locals expressed mixed opinions about participating in the elections.
“Elections are important and vital. They are our opportunity to make our voices heard and choose who represents us in Parliament, even though deep down we doubt there will be significant change,” said 65-year-old retiree Issa Ahmed.
He is one of the more than 5.1 million people registered to vote in the country of 11.5 million, according to the election commission.
