King Abdallah dissolved the lower house of Parliament in November, two years before the completion of its four-year term, amid accusations by the press and the opposition that the chamber had failed to perform its supervisory and legislative functions.

The king directed the government of Prime Minister Samir Rifai to arrange for “transparent and fair” polls in the fourth quarter of the year.

Under a law by decree, the government last month drafted a new election law that sought to plug loopholes in the previous election law, including the prosecution of vote buyers.

However, the state-funded National Center for Human Rights (NCHR) considered the new legislation as falling short of international standards.

The new law raised the number of the lower house’s seats to 120 from 110 and doubled the women’s quota to 12.

It also divided the country into one-member constituencies but failed to adopt the proportional representation system as demanded for a long time by the Islamist-led opposition, columnists and a number of independent politicians.

The national unity and the deteriorating ties with Israel against the backdrop of stumbling peace talks with the Palestinians are expected to be key issues in the poll campaign.

In a speech marking the anniversary of his accession to the throne last week, King Abdallah warned candidates against exploiting Jordan’s support to the Palestinian state to harm national unity.

He described national unity as “a red line the crossing of which will not be permitted.”

The monarch alluded to a statement issued last month by a number of retired army personnel who urged the government to stop naturalization of Palestinians to help foil the so-called “alternative homeland” scheme.

The notorious blueprint, supported by Israeli extremist lawmakers, provides for establishing a Palestinian state in Jordan.

“You should be sure that we will not accept, under whatever circumstances, a solution for the Palestinian question at the expense of Jordan. Also, Jordan will not have any role in the West Bank,” King Abdallah said.