JORDAN'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION RESULTS:

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 003651

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2013
TAGS: PGOV PHUM JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION RESULTS:
INDEPENDENT PRO-GOVERNMENT CANDIDATES WIN LARGE MAJORITY

REF: AMMAN 3612

Classified By: PolCouns Doug Silliman for reasons 1.5 (B) (D)

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) An estimated 1.3 million Jordanians voted in the
parliamentary elections June 17, out of 2.3 million
registered voters. Surprisingly, the Islamic Action Front
(IAF),the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, won only
18 seats, fewer than analysts' predictions of 20-25 seats.
Results indicate that voter turnout in rural areas and small
villages was much higher than in Amman. The national voter
turnout was 59 percent, with Karak reporting 82 percent,
Irbid 68 percent and Amman 45 percent. No women candidates
won regular seats, and the winners of the 6 women's seats
appear to be conservative and tribal. End Summary.

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VOTER TURNOUT HIGH IN NORTH AND SOUTH, LOWER IN AMMAN
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2. (C) Official results show that Jordanians in the north and
south of the country and in rural areas and villages turned
out in greater numbers to vote than their counterparts in
Amman. While an official spokesman described the turnout as
"relatively good" when compared to 1997's 54 per cent
participation, turnout did not surpass the levels of the 1993
and 1989 elections (69 and 62 percent respectively). The
lower turnout in the 1997 elections is attributed to the
IAF's boycott of elections to protest the one man, one vote
elections law.

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IAF PERFORMANCE
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3. (C) Surprisingly, although many analysts had predicted
that the IAF would win 20-25 seats, only 18 IAF candidates
won (including one of the six women's seats--see paragraph 4
below). There is speculation that other independent
candidates may also identify themselves with the IAF once the
parliament is in session. The IAF complained that many fully
veiled women (faces covered except for eyes) had been asked
to expose their faces to male election officials to verify
their identities and had chosen not to vote. (Note: None of
the 20 observers from various embassies witnessed a fully
veiled woman choose not to vote).

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WOMEN CANDIDATES
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4. Despite hope that some of the 54 women candidates would
win parliamentary seats outright, official results showed
that none of the winners of regular seats were women. The
six seats reserved for women will be filled by two women from
Tafileh, one from Irbid, one from Karak, one from Madaba, and
an IAF candidate from Zarqa. There was deep disappointment
in Amman that the capital will not have a woman
representative in parliament. Analysts expect the six female
winners will hold conservative beliefs.

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COMMENT
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5. The official results confirm that the parliament will have
a substantial pro-government majority. As mentioned reftel,
this majority will be tribal, conservative, and pro monarchy
in its orientation. That no women won seats outright and
that the capital will not have any female representative in
the parliament has highlighted how far women have yet to go
to be fully incorporated into Jordanian political life.
GNEHM