Mission Status Quo

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Jordan’s Islamist opposition party won the most votes in the kingdom’s parliamentary elections this week but failed to secure a majority, a result that underscored voter frustration over economic woes and the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, Agence France-Presse reported.

Results showed that the Islamic Action Front (IAF), a political offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, won 31 of 138 seats in Tuesday’s legislative elections, more than tripling its previous count of 10 seats in the 2020 elections.

The result mark a historic win for the party, which rode a wave of public disillusionment over Israel’s actions in Gaza and positioned itself as a defender of Palestinian rights. The IAF’s stance particularly resonated with Jordanians of Palestinian origin, who make up about half of the country’s population.

Despite its success, the government will retain a considerable majority in the legislature after two parties affiliated with it secured around 70 seats combined, according to the New York Times. Independent lawmakers and those supporting smaller parties are also likely to back government policies.

Voter turnout stood at 32 percent, which political analysts said reflected deep public dissatisfaction with the policies of the Jordanian government, including its relationship with Israel.

Jordan is grappling with 21 percent unemployment, mounting public debt nearing $50 billion and a tourism sector hit by the war in the Palestinian enclave.

The kingdom signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, but there have been regular protests in the country calling for the dissolution of the agreement, especially since the Gaza war erupted.

King Abdullah II has denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza and warned against the transfer of Palestinians to Jordan, but his government’s balancing act with the West has not entirely satisfied the public.

Still, some observers suggested that the election’s outcome will serve as a balance that allows Islamists to have a voice in parliament without significantly altering Jordan’s political stability.

Neil Quilliam, a regional expert at Chatham House, referred to the vote as a “safety valve” that absorbs public anger over Gaza while maintaining the government’s grip on power.