Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN6999
2003-10-29 13:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

ISLAMISTS WELCOME KING'S CALL FOR POLITICAL

Tags:  PGOV KDEM JO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

291349Z Oct 03
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006999 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2013
TAGS: PGOV KDEM JO
SUBJECT: ISLAMISTS WELCOME KING'S CALL FOR POLITICAL
DEVELOPMENT

REF: AMMAN 06812

Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm for Reasons 1.5 (B,D)

-------
SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006999

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2013
TAGS: PGOV KDEM JO
SUBJECT: ISLAMISTS WELCOME KING'S CALL FOR POLITICAL
DEVELOPMENT

REF: AMMAN 06812

Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm for Reasons 1.5 (B,D)

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) The Jordanian Islamic Action Front (IAF) publicly
embraced King Abdullah's call for political development and a
more democratic elections law. The IAF sees the current
electoral system as limiting its power in Parliament and
hopes to capitalize on political reform measures to expand
its influence. End Summary.

--------------
WE'RE DEMOCRATS TOO!
--------------


2. (U) As reported reftel, King Abdullah recently outlined
his goals for the incoming government of Prime Minister
Faisal al-Fayez, including a new emphasis on political
development. The letter specifically mentioned the drafting
of a "democratic elections law" prior to parliamentary
elections currently slated for 2007.


3. (U) The IAF, political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood,
hailed the King's call for greater democracy and political
pluralism. In a press interview October 26, Abdul Latif
Arabiyat, president of the IAF Shura Council, said that it
was "very good that the King gave such clear instructions.
We hope that the government will follow them." He further
stated that, "We are ready to negotiate, we remain
open-minded, we are ready to cooperate with the new
government."


4. (U) Arabiyat also welcomed the smaller size of the new
cabinet, downsized from 29 to 21 ministers. "Twenty is good,
I wish they were 15, God willing!," commented the IAF leader.

--------------
ELECTIONS LAW CONTROVERSY
--------------


5. (C) One of the main IAF priorities is the scrapping of
the provisional one-person, one-vote elections law adopted
without Parliament's approval in 2001 and which governed the
June 2003 parliamentary elections. According to the IAF and
many political analysts, the tribal nature of Jordanian
society prompts many voters to cast their sole ballot on the
basis of family, rather than ideological, considerations. If
Jordanians could cast two votes in multi-member
constituencies, the IAF contends, they would cast the first
for a member of their tribe and the second for the candidate
who most closely reflects their political views.


6. (C) Believing that a two-vote system would increase its
representation in Parliament, the IAF is considering
presenting a proposal, with the support of other opposition
parties, to change the current elections law. In addition to
two votes for each voter, the IAF is reportedly weighing
inclusion of a quota for political parties in its elections
law proposal. The IAF also hopes that "democratic reforms"
would extend to other representative institutions. According
to Arabiyat, "We need to focus on the principles that govern
all elections, for Parliament, university student councils,
municipalities or other bodies."

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) The IAF will undoubtedly seek to capitalize on the
King's call for political reforms for its own benefit. While
Arabiyat's comments suggest that the IAF may adopt a
relatively conciliatory approach in its initial dealings with
the new government, it will not hesitate to resort to a more
confrontational stance to further its agenda. Parliamentary
debate on the future of the provisional elections law should
prove a key IAF battleground.

Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at
http://www.state.sgov/p/nea/amman/ or access the site through
the Department of State's SIPRNET home page.
GNEHM