The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan held parliamentary elections this month that were hailed by the State Department, the National Democratic Institute, and the International Republican Institute as a clear step in the right direction for democratic progress in the region. There is no denying that Jordan has made strides over the past few years by allowing international observers to monitor its elections and increasing the number of parliamentary seats allocated to women. However, groups like the NDI and IRI should have adopted a much sterner tone in their assessments, as the country has much to improve on for future elections:
1) Widespread allegations of voter fraud, including cases of politicians buying votes.
2) Instances of violence, including the death of one person in a shootout in Karak. Officials reported 53 “violent incidents” on election day.
3) The passing of an electoral law that has reduced representation in cities, despite that 78% of the population lives in urban areas (according to the CIA Factbook). Tribal groups, who are staunch supporters of King Abdullah II, occupy these rural areas while cities are populated by those who favor Islamist candidates. The country’s main opposition party, the Islamic Action Front, boycotted the election on this basis.
Rather than titling their reports “Credible Elections a Step Forward for Jordan and the Region” and”Jordan Elections Show Clear Improvement over 2007 Polls, NDI Observer Mission Says,” election monitoring organizations like the NDI and IRI need to take a more hardline approach. Showering Jordan with unworthy compliments will not improve the prospects for democracy in the area. Instead, it sends the country the message that its current practices are acceptable, which they are not.
Judging from the violence and fraud, there is still a lot of work left to be done—for both Jordan and election monitoring groups.
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