Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN2682
2003-05-06 14:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

JORDAN'S JUNE 17 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS: TIMELINE

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI JO 
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UNCLAS AMMAN 002682 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN'S JUNE 17 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS: TIMELINE
AND PROCEDURAL RULES FOR CANDIDATES

UNCLAS AMMAN 002682

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN'S JUNE 17 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS: TIMELINE
AND PROCEDURAL RULES FOR CANDIDATES


1. (U) Jordan is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on
June 17. This cable provides basic information regarding the
legal requirements candidates must fulfill in the run-up to
the election, as well as a timeline of when specific actions
must occur prior to the sitting of the new Parliament.

--------------
INITIAL CANDIDACY PROCEDURES
--------------


2. (U) Individuals wishing to compete in the June 17
elections are required to provide their candidacy
applications to the Head of the Central Committee for the
governorate in which they choose to run with a statement
affirming the following during a three day (May 18-20)
registration period.

Candidates must:

a. be at least 30 years old and a Jordanian national for at
least 10 years,
b. not have bankruptcy convictions or sentences of over one
year for non-political crimes,
c. not belong to any "non-Jordanian" political parties or
organizations,
d. pay a 500 Jordanian dinars (700 USD) fee.

--------------
LIMITS ON CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES
--------------


4. (U) Once the campaign has officially begun on May 18 (30
days prior to voting) candidates must comply with the
following rules:

a. electoral meetings and campaign speeches are prohibited in
places of worship, universities, private and public schools,
public streets and government buildings.

b. Speeches, publications and political advertisements may
not include material slandering any candidates, or agitation
of sectarian, tribal or regional bias against any groups of
citizens.

c. Government employees are prohibited from engaging in any
election publicity at their work sites.

d. Candidates may not present gifts, monetary contributions,
or in-kind assistance to any voters or election officials.

--------------
ELECTION DAY: SUPERVISION AND PROCEDURES
--------------


5. (U) The Minister of the Interior will form committees that
will administer voting and vote counting. Voting begins at 7
a.m. on June 17th and ends at 7:00 p.m. that same evening.
Candidates or assigned delegates are allowed to observe end
of day vote counting procedures. Assigned committees at each
voting center must open the ballot boxes in front of those
official candidate representatives present at each center and
count ballots. Results will then be sent to the District
Electoral committee.



6. (U) Supervising the elections process will be a committee
composed of the Minister of the Interior, Secretary General
of the Ministry of the Interior, Head of the Passport
department, a "high caliber" judge to be named by the
President of the Judicial Council, and the head of the
Elections department.

--------------
CERTIFICATION OF RESULTS
--------------


7. (U) Per the Elections Law, election results must be
announced by the Minister of the Interior no later than 48
hours after receiving the voting records from the voting
centers.

--------------
CONVENING THE NEW PARLIAMENT
--------------


8. (U) Per the Jordanian Constitution, the King, in
consultation with the PM, will likely set a date soon after
the elections for convening an extraordinary session of the
new Parliament which will sit until September 30. October
1st, per the Constitution, is designated as the first day for
the ordinary session of the lower house of the Jordanian
parliament.
BERRY