Geostrategic Media Political Commentary, Analysis, Security, Defense
Eng. Saleem Al Batayneh
In the aftermath of the events in Gaza, it becomes imperative for us to contemplate the repercussions of what transpired and what may unfold! The Jordanian situation is not isolated from the broader context of regional issues. The pivotal question before us is: Can parliamentary elections proceed on the scheduled date? Or will the region’s turbulent political, security, and social unrest be a compelling reason to postpone them and extend the current council for another year?
Those engaged in thoughtful and informed political discourse in Jordan acknowledge the expanding scope of discontent. The upcoming elections are distinct from their predecessors for various reasons, foremost among them being a pervasive sense of disillusionment and pessimism. The prevailing atmosphere, dominated by the outcomes of the tragic events in Gaza, has contributed to political aversion and stagnation, coupled with general apathy. The intricate regional situation, compounded by the severe economic crisis faced by Jordanians, the frustration of unemployed youth, and the perceived lack of political avenues for their grievances, adds to the complexity.
As we stand on the threshold of a new year, reflecting on the past year’s painful events in Palestine, the entry into the new year is merely a symbolic marker in time—an occasion to contemplate the killings, destruction, and ethnic cleansing, drawing insights for the future.
The undeniable truth is that we are confronted with a tumultuous sea of crises and events from all directions! A glance at Jordan’s geopolitical map reveals a country torn apart to the north, ongoing turmoil in Iraq to the east, Abbas searching for lost legitimacy to the west, and discussions in Israel suggesting that Jordan is within the Promised Land and should become the destination for all Palestinians. This sentiment was recently expressed by Israeli journalist Moshe Dane in Haaretz, stating that the plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza and Judea and Samaria was agreed upon in 2008.
Returning to our main topic, the attention in Jordan is focused on regional developments, prompting internal discussions, with some expressing reservations about holding the upcoming parliamentary elections despite their approaching date. Controversy persists regarding the feasibility of holding them on time.
All options are challenging, and various scenarios are being considered. Despite conflicting opinions and differing perceptions, the likelihood of holding the elections on time may decrease due to an unsuitable atmosphere, even if claimed otherwise.
Jordanians have the right to be indifferent about upcoming elections. Changing their negative perceptions toward parliaments is challenging, given their belief that the majority of Houses of Representatives since 1993 have lost their constitutional authority, focusing instead on playing political games and neglecting societal regression, developmental illusions, and the decline of education and healthcare. Emerging political parties often face a state of political adolescence, seeking legitimacy tied to external figures, and the adopted geographical structure for electoral districts contributes to their disconnect from the broader Jordanian context.
In a previous article, I highlighted that Jordan’s political climate has seldom been characterized by idealism, and addressing significant questions such as naturalization, identity, demography, vision, freedoms, dialogue, openness, the rules of the next game, the absent national project, and practical political reform is crucial.
We need a space of calm, stability, multidimensional thinking, and references to avert future dangers. Regardless of the election date, it should herald a change in Jordan’s political landscape, sidelining many from the political scene. Jordanians will no longer tolerate a distorted political arena with questionable credibility.
My rhetorical question, not expecting an answer, remains: Is there a genuine commitment to holding parliamentary elections on time? Or is there a failure to perceive the situation as we do?
Eng. Al Batayneh is a former member of the Jordanian Parliament
