JORDAN: Jordanian parliamentary candidates woo electorate with promises of services

Record ID: 345347

  • Title: JORDAN: Jordanian parliamentary candidates woo electorate with promises of services
  • Date: 5th November 2007
  • Summary: EXTERIOR OF ELECTION CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS OF A CANDIDATE PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE HEADQUARTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AHMED MIRI, JORDANIAN CITIZEN, SAYING: "(Participating in) the elections is a national duty and we hope they will be fair and transparent as his majesty the King (Abdullah) assured us, so that the democratic process will be sound and result in a parliament wh
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jordan
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2R0VBSHAHHJRRF45XZSRVGOEH
  • Story Text: Jordanian candidates running for parliamentary elections scheduled for November 20 have stepped up their election campaigns, flooding the capital Amman and other parts of the country with posters and banners promoting their platforms.
    But some political analysts say many candidates base their campaigns on promises to provide the public with improved public services, as well as promises of personal favours such as government jobs, rather than focusing on their prospective roles as lawmakers and monitors of the executive branch of the government.
    "The slogans in the election campaigns indicate that the campaigns are being based on (promising to provide) services (for residents), and emphasise the services candidates promise to provide, rather than political issues. Some political issues are being raised, but not as much as one would have hoped in a parliamentary election. People view the services issues as the most important," said Faris Breizat, political analyst at the University of Jordan's Centre for Strategic Studies.
    He said this fosters a system in which parliamentarians can perform personal favours, such as facilitating employment in government departments.
    This promotes red tape and administrative corruption, Breizat says.
    "The concept of a services-oriented member of parliament (an MP who bases his or her campaign on promises to provide services for voters) is defined in a manner which creates corruption and increases administrative corruption in the country. According to our latest study, a services-oriented member of parliament is able to give people government jobs, and usually these jobs are superfluous jobs, increasing bureaucracy in the Jordanian state. This creates a strain on the government budget and on the state," Breizat said.
    Parliamentary candidate Samar Haj Hasan says many Jordanians believe the role of MPs is primarily to provide them with better services, rather than enacting laws and monitoring government performance.
    "During my election campaign, I noticed that people expect to be served by members of parliament. When I go visit people, they ask me what I will provide for them in terms of jobs, opening a street here or providing electricity there. Some actions taken by previous members of parliament got people used to the idea that MPs are services-oriented, but it is very important for citizens to understand that the main role of a member of parliament is a legislative and a monitoring role, and can affect their lives in terms of the laws they can pass," Haj Hasan said outside a marquee she set up to meet with members of the public.
    Breizat believes the executive branch of the Jordanian government appeases MPs by approving trivial requests that promote them with their constituents. In return, MPs give laws proposed by the executive an easy ride through parliament.
    "When it comes to the constitution, law, and politics, I think that the parliament is still treated as if it is of lesser importance than the (executive branch of the) government. It is supposed to be more important than the government because it is a monitoring and legislative mechanism, but the government deals with MPs as if they were there to provide services, and it appeases them by small appointments here and there, while the MPs (in return) approve the laws the government puts forward," Breizat said.
    But some potential voters are still putting their faith in the democratic process, and hope the upcoming elections will be transparent and serve the wider interests of their country.
    "Participating in the elections is a national duty and we hope they will be fair and transparent as his majesty the King (Abdullah) assured us, so that the democratic process will be sound and result in a parliament which is able to serve the people and the homeland at this sensitive time for the region and for Jordan," Jordanian citizen Ahmed Miri said.
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