Brotherhood threatens Jordan polls boycott
Jordan’s powerful Muslim Brotherhood has said it will boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections in protest over recent changes in the kingdom’s election legislation.
A boycott would be a blow to King Abdullah, who has made reforms the centrepiece of his campaign to stave off Arab Spring-like protests in Jordan.
Brotherhood spokesman Jamil Abu-Bakr said that the movement – Jordan’s largest opposition group – may reverse its decision if the government “makes serious and real efforts toward reforms”.
The elections are expected at the end of the year. The main dispute is over a new election law, which allows each voter two separate ballots – one for representatives from local districts in this traditionally tribal society, the other for one of 27 candidates on a national list.
