ISLAMIC ACTION FRONT ANNOUNCES LIST OF 29

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002822

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SOCI JO
SUBJECT: ISLAMIC ACTION FRONT ANNOUNCES LIST OF 29
CANDIDATES FOR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm. Resons 1.5 (B) and (D)

1.(C) The Islamic Action Front (IAF),the political arm of
the Muslim Brotherhood, published on May 12 its list of 29
candidates running in the June 17 parliamentary elections.
Press reports called the list "surprising" because of the
number of new faces on the list at the expense of veteran,
better known names from the past. Embassy contacts believe
that the emergence of the IAF's "new breed" of politicians is
a sign of an internal struggle between the younger and older
members within the IAF, and evidence that the new generation
may be gaining an upper hand within the organization.

2.(C) Another cause for surprise is the inclusion of only one
female candidate, unusual when considering that Jordan's
Elections Law for the first time sets aside six seats in the
new parliament for women. Embassy contacts expected the IAF
to have fielded more female candidates in various lightly
populated and conservative districts to increase their
chances for capturing these new seats. The new female quota
will award seats to the six female candidates who receive the
highest percentage of votes cast. A number of local
political observers are now saying that the IAF may have a
number of "stealth" female candidates who will run as
independents, rather than formally under the IAF banner.
GNEHM