KING REAFFIRMS 2007 ELECTIONS CALENDAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000971 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2017 TAGS: PGOV KDEM KISL JO SUBJECT: KING REAFFIRMS 2007 ELECTIONS CALENDAR Classified By: CDA Daniel Rubinstein for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) KING Abdullah publicly reiterated his support for GOJ plans to hold parliamentary elections late this year, preceded by municipal elections in mid-2007. In an interview with Jordanian television March 2, the KING repeated previous statements of his desire to see the two elections take place this year. The statement, recorded shortly before the KING left on his current visit to Britain and the U.S., was likely aimed at both domestic and Western audiences. Within Jordan, some observers believed that fears of Islamist electoral gains would prompt the KING to use his constitutional authority to extend the current parliament's term, and amend the municipal government reform bill with similar motives. ¶2. (C) The KING told Ambassador last week that parliamentary elections would take place Sunday, October 21. However, the GOJ has not yet announced this date. ¶3. (C) Parliament will likely complete its current session before the end of March. The GOJ could call parliament back for a special session before its term expires June 21, but palace officials recently told Ambassador they currently do not plan to do so. ¶4. (SBU) Recent developments in parliament (septel) also track with a mid-2007 time frame for municipal polls. RUBINSTEIN