(MENAFN- Jordan Times) The deadline for registration for the upcoming parliamentary elections is fast approaching. If the daily rate of those registering continues at the current pace, it is unlikely that the number of registered voters will exceed one million, a serious blow to the government, which has been fighting an uphill battle against boycotters.
Of course, the deadline can be extended for two more weeks, but it might not make a difference, as Jordanians do not seem keen to register.
Much ink has been spilt trying to explain why people are unenthusiastic towards the upcoming elections. After more than a year-and-a-half of a wishy-washy reform process, the new Elections Law disappointed Jordanians from different walks of life.
In fact, the law became the focus of the reform process and therefore it has become a most controversial issue.
From the very beginning, many political and tribal movements made it perfectly clear that the one-person, one-vote principle would not be accepted. It became the bone of contention between government and activists.
When the Parliament enacted the law in its current form, some credible political forces and the tribal movements announced that they would boycott the upcoming elections. The government tried to convince people to register for voting in the elections, but failed, so far, to get Jordanians to register in satisfactory numbers.
The boycotters have adopted a strategy of delegitimising the process altogether.
Amid this volatile atmosphere that is full of mistrust, one should think of a new approach. The government needs to understand that its current approach will do Jordan no good.
Many analysts are pointing the finger at the government, which failed to deal with the protest movements or to give the impression that it is up to the transitional stage. The president of the Senate, a widely respected politician, called for a roadmap without elaborating on the issue.
Jordan is in a crisis and the upcoming elections will not help defuse this crisis. It will be a blow to the country if elections are held with a modest number of voters registered.
The country needs elections as a crowning of the reform process. True, there are some political forces that feel emboldened by the developments in the region, but they should not discourage the population.
The country needs to push for a genuine reform that places Jordan in a better position to deal with challenges that lay ahead.
Another issue is the timing of the elections. Will postponing them for a few months hurt the country?
If postponing elections is accompanied by a revision of the electoral law in a way that guarantees the participation, rather than the exclusion, of all, then this can be a better idea than insisting upon holding elections before the end of the year with modest public participation.
However, if the government does not have the political will to budge, the crisis may magnify.
In brief, a roadmap for participation in elections is a must if we aspire to get the reform done. The current official approach is disastrous and is not expected to bring about a positive outcome for the country.
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