The State of Jordan’s political situation has become increasingly divisive in the past several months. This week, lawmakers in the country failed to elect a new speaker of the House of Representatives, with the result producing a stalemate between the country’s two major political parties.
The current speaker of the House, Ihab Al-Jazzar, was unable to reclaim the position using the chamber’s two-thirds majority vote. Jassar lost by two votes, with a result that has been seen as reflective of the intensifying political divide in the country.
It is the second time within a year that a speaker of the House has failed to reach the required majority. The first failed attempt came in April 2019, when the Republican party was unable to reach consensus and Al-Jazzar was ultimately elected.
This latest situation underlines the internal divisions between the two main political parties, the Democratic Union Party (DUP) and the Republican bloc. The DUP, headed by Prime Minister Salha al-Satir, has looked to strengthen its hold on the House of Representatives and term-limited the position of Speaker to six months.
By doing so, al-Satir has been able to prevent the Republicans from amassing enough power to seriously challenge the DUP’s influence. Al-Jazzar is a member of the DUP and had the support of the majority party during his run for the speakership.
It is no surprise then that the Republican bloc failed to secure the House vote in favor of their representative, Sultan al-Qaisi. Despite the failure, al-Qaisi still expressed his appreciation for the support he received, saying that he was “honored and humbled” by the attempts of his fellow Republicans.
The Republican bloc has been vocal in its criticism of the government and the DUP, accusing them of mismanagement and attempting to consolidate too much power. The failed attempt to elect a Republican speaker stands as an increasingly bitter reflection of this divide and is unlikely to be resolved any time soon.
Jordan’s political scene is one in flux, and the years ahead are likely to be just as treacherous as the recent past. The failure of this week’s vote will only lead to further conflict, and the result of this struggle may reverberate throughout the country for some time.
The State of Jordan’s political situation has become increasingly divisive in the past several months. This week, lawmakers in the country failed to elect a new speaker of the House of Representatives, with the result producing a stalemate between the country’s two major political parties.
The current speaker of the House, Ihab Al-Jazzar, was unable to reclaim the position using the chamber’s two-thirds majority vote. Jassar lost by two votes, with a result that has been seen as reflective of the intensifying political divide in the country.
It is the second time within a year that a speaker of the House has failed to reach the required majority. The first failed attempt came in April 2019, when the Republican party was unable to reach consensus and Al-Jazzar was ultimately elected.
This latest situation underlines the internal divisions between the two main political parties, the Democratic Union Party (DUP) and the Republican bloc. The DUP, headed by Prime Minister Salha al-Satir, has looked to strengthen its hold on the House of Representatives and term-limited the position of Speaker to six months.
By doing so, al-Satir has been able to prevent the Republicans from amassing enough power to seriously challenge the DUP’s influence. Al-Jazzar is a member of the DUP and had the support of the majority party during his run for the speakership.
It is no surprise then that the Republican bloc failed to secure the House vote in favor of their representative, Sultan al-Qaisi. Despite the failure, al-Qaisi still expressed his appreciation for the support he received, saying that he was “honored and humbled” by the attempts of his fellow Republicans.
The Republican bloc has been vocal in its criticism of the government and the DUP, accusing them of mismanagement and attempting to consolidate too much power. The failed attempt to elect a Republican speaker stands as an increasingly bitter reflection of this divide and is unlikely to be resolved any time soon.
Jordan’s political scene is one in flux, and the years ahead are likely to be just as treacherous as the recent past. The failure of this week’s vote will only lead to further conflict, and the result of this struggle may reverberate throughout the country for some time.
