General elections were held in Jordan on 17 June 2003. They were the fourth contest held after the political liberalization started in 1989 and the first elections to take place since 1997. The number of voters who cast their ballots constituted almost 58.8 percent of registered voters, a record high in the last years, who total 2,325,496 of the country's 5.4 million citizens. The Kingdom's most prominent tribal representatives carried a large majority of the seats. The highest turnout, 86 percent, was registered in Karak, while the lowest ratio of voters, 44.62 percent, was in Amman.[1]
The elections were first scheduled for November 2001, but were delayed due to political instability in the region. In fact, the second Intifada started on 28 September 2000 and King Abdullah found it adequate to defer the parliamentary elections, the Constitution of Jordan allows the monarch to postpone the elections for a maximum of two years. The parliament was also solved by a Royal Decree in 2001.
Election lawedit
Elections Seats Scheme of 2003 was established under Election Law No.34 of 2001. It added six seats to women, lowered the voting age from 19 to 18, resized electoral districts raising their number from 20 to 45, and re-approved the one-person one-vote electoral system.[2] Many parties and political figures found this law unfair. The law reserves special ethnical quotas for Circassians, Chechens and Christians, the parliamentary seat distribution is shown in the following table:[1]
A special quota system has been created to ensure women would be elected to the lower chamber, six seats were assigned at national level, i.e. the six women with the highest percentage nationwide won the six reserved seats. Many women ran for the elections, but none won a seat over the special quota.
Parties and Candidatesedit
In 2003 elections, there were 765 candidates competing for the 110 seats. The major opposition party, the Islamic Action Front did not boycott the elections, as did other opposition parties. Most candidates were independents of various tendencies, both non-partisans and tribal leaders.
The number of Senators cannot be more than half of deputies, therefore 55 senators were constitutionally appointed by the king. Zaid al-Rifai was appointed as Spokesman of the House and 4 women were included in the upper house.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abJordanian Elections 2003, Jordanian Embassy, Washington D.C.
^Election Law No.11 of 2003 & Election Law No. 34 of 2001 and amendments - Jordan 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, International Labor Organization
^"Elections held in 2003". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
^JORDAN, Elections and Parliament 2007-09-03 at the Wayback Machine, European Institute for Research on Mediterranean and Euro-Arab Cooperation
External linksedit
October 27, 2023
2003, jordanian, general, election, general, elections, were, held, jordan, june, 2003, they, were, fourth, contest, held, after, political, liberalization, started, 1989, first, elections, take, place, since, 1997, number, voters, cast, their, ballots, consti. General elections were held in Jordan on 17 June 2003 They were the fourth contest held after the political liberalization started in 1989 and the first elections to take place since 1997 The number of voters who cast their ballots constituted almost 58 8 percent of registered voters a record high in the last years who total 2 325 496 of the country s 5 4 million citizens The Kingdom s most prominent tribal representatives carried a large majority of the seats The highest turnout 86 percent was registered in Karak while the lowest ratio of voters 44 62 percent was in Amman 1 2003 Jordanian general election 1997 17 June 2003 2003 06 17 2007 150 to the House of Representatives Contents 1 Political Climate in the Region 2 Election law 3 Women Participation 4 Parties and Candidates 5 Results 6 Assembly of Senators 7 References 8 External linksPolitical Climate in the Region editThe elections were first scheduled for November 2001 but were delayed due to political instability in the region In fact the second Intifada started on 28 September 2000 and King Abdullah found it adequate to defer the parliamentary elections the Constitution of Jordan allows the monarch to postpone the elections for a maximum of two years The parliament was also solved by a Royal Decree in 2001 Election law editElections Seats Scheme of 2003 was established under Election Law No 34 of 2001 It added six seats to women lowered the voting age from 19 to 18 resized electoral districts raising their number from 20 to 45 and re approved the one person one vote electoral system 2 Many parties and political figures found this law unfair The law reserves special ethnical quotas for Circassians Chechens and Christians the parliamentary seat distribution is shown in the following table 1 Governorate Districts Muslims Circassian or Chechens Christians TotalAmman 7 20 2 1 23Irbid 9 15 0 1 16Balqa 4 8 0 2 10Karak 6 8 0 2 10Ma an 3 4 0 0 4Zarqa 4 8 1 1 10Mafraq 1 4 0 0 4Tafileh 2 4 0 0 4Madaba 2 3 0 1 4Jerash 1 4 0 0 4Ajloun 2 3 0 1 4Aqaba 1 2 0 0 4North Bedouin Tribes 1 3 0 0 3Center Bedouin Tribes 1 3 0 0 3South Bedouin Tribes 1 3 0 0 3Minimum Women Quota 6Total 45 92 3 9 110Women Participation editA special quota system has been created to ensure women would be elected to the lower chamber six seats were assigned at national level i e the six women with the highest percentage nationwide won the six reserved seats Many women ran for the elections but none won a seat over the special quota Parties and Candidates editIn 2003 elections there were 765 candidates competing for the 110 seats The major opposition party the Islamic Action Front did not boycott the elections as did other opposition parties Most candidates were independents of various tendencies both non partisans and tribal leaders Results editPartyVotes SeatsIslamic Action Front139 22910 3717Independents and others1 203 77089 6387Appointed women members6Total1 342 999100 00110Total votes1 342 999 Registered voters turnout2 325 49657 75Source IPU 3 Assembly of Senators editThe number of Senators cannot be more than half of deputies therefore 55 senators were constitutionally appointed by the king Zaid al Rifai was appointed as Spokesman of the House and 4 women were included in the upper house 4 References edit a b Jordanian Elections 2003 Jordanian Embassy Washington D C Election Law No 11 of 2003 amp Election Law No 34 of 2001 and amendments Jordan Archived 2007 09 27 at the Wayback Machine International Labor Organization Elections held in 2003 Inter Parliamentary Union Retrieved 26 August 2016 JORDAN Elections and Parliament Archived 2007 09 03 at the Wayback Machine European Institute for Research on Mediterranean and Euro Arab CooperationExternal links edit Ministry of the Interior Temporary Election Law 34 2001 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2003 Jordanian general election amp oldid 1118346349, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
