AMMAN, 27 August 2007 — Jordan’s trade unions, influential Muslim Brotherhood Movement, and its political arm, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), yesterday demanded “real assurances” from the government that the parliamentary elections, set for Nov. 20 be held in a fair and transparent atmosphere.
“The Muslim Brotherhood has decided to defer taking a decision on whether to run for the general elections until the image becomes clear with real and tangible assurances materialize as to the fairness and transparency of the polls,” the group said in a statement.
The country’s 14 trade unions have also issued a statement urging the government to “assume neutrality, refrain from intervention in the polling process and ensure the elections will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.”
The professional societies also called for “judicial supervision” on the ballot process, the enactment of “a modern and democratic election law” and dialogue between the government and all civic society institutions.
The remarks came against the backdrop of charges by the Muslim Brotherhood and IAF that the government had “rigged” the municipal elections of July 31. On the voting day, the IAF withdrew its 33 candidates from the polling process and accused the government of using army personnel for duplicate voting.
Meanwhile, Chechnya President Ramzan Kadyrov began a three-day visit to Jordan yesterday. The Moscow-backed Kadyrov, who took office as Chechen president in April, told the Interfax news agency he also wanted to meet with representatives of the “Chechen diaspora.” “I know that these people, although they have lived in Jordan for more than 100 years, feel solidarity for the suffering of the Chechens,” Kadyrov said.
