The Islamic Action Front (IAF) in Jordan has secured 31 seats in recent parliamentary elections, making it the largest party in the 138-seat legislature. The IAF, linked to the Jordanian arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, has tripled its count from the previous election. The party’s leader, Wael al-Saqqa, expressed joy at the outcome, crediting it to the faith shown by the people of Jordan. He pledged to ensure the rights of Palestinians, promising Jordanian financial and other aid towards their fight for liberty.
Despite the division of the remaining 101 seats among various contenders, the IAF’s 22.5% presence makes it an influential force amidst current crises, including the Gaza war, financial distress, corruption and electoral reforms. The Brotherhood has been the key force driving anti-war protests which have galvanized Jordanians from all walks of life, not merely those of Palestinian refugee descent.
The protests are also a platform to voice out against the country’s deepening economic issues. Jordan sees a 24% overall unemployment rate, and the percentage of people living in poverty varies from 24% in cities to 67% in refugee camps. The situation has been aggravated by the Gaza war, due to the fall in tourist numbers and heightened Red Sea shipping costs. Despite these odds, Jordanians have managed to extend humanitarian aid to Gaza, while their government has flown aid drops of food and medicines.
The 2022 reforms attempted to make the political structure more democratic by bolstering party engagement and participation at the city and town levels. Women won 27 seats in this election, out of which 18 were reserved through a quota system. Earlier legislation tended to favour rural and tribal areas, prioritising independent candidates over party candidates.
Although voter turnout in the current election was only 32.25%, it is a slight uptick from the 29% in 2020, as many Jordanians feel that major decisions are made by the monarch and not through the electoral process.
Ever since Jordan gained its independence in 1946, the Muslim Brotherhood has been an active participant in the country’s political affairs. The group has a favourable relationship with Jordan’s Hashemite rulers, who are asserted to be direct descendants of Prophet Muhammad. The Hashemites were in charge of the holy Islamic cities of Mecca and Medina from the 10th to the early part of the 20th centuries. In 1921, the great-grandfather of King Abdullah II, the present king, was placed in power in Amman by Britain. In a critical moment in 1957, the Brotherhood supported the monarchy against a coup orchestrated by pan-Arab nationalists. From that time forward, the Brotherhood has maintained a position as a pivotal and loyal opposition.