Jordan Elections: New Law Shapes Parliamentary Landscape Amid Gaza Conflict

Jordan's first parliamentary elections under a new law aimed at reducing tribal influence and boosting political parties saw polls open on Tuesday. The 2022 law allocates seats to political parties and raises women's representation. Despite changes, tribal and pro-government factions are expected to dominate.

Polls opened on Tuesday for Jordan's first parliamentary elections under a newly introduced law designed to diminish tribal influence and bolster political parties. The electoral shift occurs against the backdrop of Israel's war in Gaza, likely aiding Islamists due to growing public discontent.

The 2022 electoral law allocates 41 seats directly to over 30 licensed political parties, predominantly pro-government. The law also increases the women's quota to 18 seats from 15 and lowers the age for elected deputies from 30 to 25. With 5.1 million registered voters out of a total population of 11 million, 1,623 candidates, including 353 women, are vying for seats across 18 districts.

Despite these reforms, Jordan's historical voting system continues to favor sparsely-populated tribal regions over densely-populated cities with significant Palestinian-Jordanian populations. Officials assert that King Abdullah's decision to proceed with the election amidst the Gaza war signals political continuity despite the regional turbulence.

Anti-Israel sentiment is high within the country, and the Gaza conflict is expected to boost the electoral prospects of Islamist groups, Jordan's main opposition, which have held significant rallies supporting the militant Palestinian Hamas group.

(With inputs from agencies.)