The new draft election law was proposed this week by the National Dialogue Committee (NDC) to spearhead political reform that has been sought by four months of protests that were inspired by the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.
"We have followed up with deep concern and disappointment the new draft election law which has been worked out by the NDC,” the Coordination Committee of the Opposition Parties said in a statement.
The new law, which replaces the old one-person-one-vote system, allows eligible voters to have two votes—one for the governorate and the other for the homeland.
"We have cherished hope that the NDC will produce a clear and advanced election law that responds to the democratic aspirations of the people and the requirements of the country’s political reform, because the election law represents the cornerstone of the required reform,” the panel said.
However, the opposition parties hailed the new draft political parties law as "an advanced step that removed many of the obstacles which previously impeded the freedom of parties."
King Abdallah set up the 52-member NDC in mid-March with the avowed aim of reaching a compromise election law and a political parties law in the run-up for adopting "real and speedy reforms" which he assigned to Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit’s government.
The monarch said that the sought reforms should lead to the formation of Jordanian governments that have majorities at the lower house of parliament, a target that could not be achieved with the old election law.
The opposition gathering comprises the Islamic Action Front (IAF) and six other Pan-Arab and left-leaning political parties.
