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| Jordan holds parliamentary election despite boycott | Jordan holds parliamentary election despite boycott |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Jordanians are voting in parliamentary elections which the government has said mark the start of a gradual process to bring greater democracy to the country. | Jordanians are voting in parliamentary elections which the government has said mark the start of a gradual process to bring greater democracy to the country. |
| For the first time, King Abdullah is set to appoint a prime minister from among the members of the largest blocs, or else someone approved by them. | For the first time, King Abdullah is set to appoint a prime minister from among the members of the largest blocs, or else someone approved by them. |
| However, the largest opposition parties are boycotting the vote in protest at changes made to the electoral system. | However, the largest opposition parties are boycotting the vote in protest at changes made to the electoral system. |
| They complain that the system is rigged in favour of supporters of the king. | They complain that the system is rigged in favour of supporters of the king. |
| King Abdullah has launched a series of reforms over the past two years in a bid to stave off a popular uprising like those which have led to the overthrow of four other Arab rulers. | King Abdullah has launched a series of reforms over the past two years in a bid to stave off a popular uprising like those which have led to the overthrow of four other Arab rulers. |
| 'Sham' | 'Sham' |
| Polling stations opened across Jordan at 07:00 (04:00 GMT) on Wednesday, with the authorities appealing for a high turnout. Voting is scheduled to end at 19:00 (16:00 GMT). | |
| At least 600,000 people, or 27.5% of the 2.3 million eligible voters, cast their ballots in the first two hours despite computer problems, election commission chief Abdul Ilah Khatib said. | |
| After casting his vote, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said the election was a "stepping stone, or a station, on the path to more vigorous, serious, real and genuine reforms". | After casting his vote, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said the election was a "stepping stone, or a station, on the path to more vigorous, serious, real and genuine reforms". |
| "More democracy is coming," he told reporters. | "More democracy is coming," he told reporters. |
| Mr Ensour is expected to remain caretaker prime minister until the king names a successor, who should be drawn from the parties or blocs which control the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives. | Mr Ensour is expected to remain caretaker prime minister until the king names a successor, who should be drawn from the parties or blocs which control the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives. |
| However, with the exception of the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), parties are traditionally small and weak in Jordan. The king has warned it may not be possible to appoint an MP as prime minister, but promised parliament would be consulted. | However, with the exception of the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), parties are traditionally small and weak in Jordan. The king has warned it may not be possible to appoint an MP as prime minister, but promised parliament would be consulted. |
| Critics - led by the IAF - have said the reform does not go far enough. | Critics - led by the IAF - have said the reform does not go far enough. |
| They are also demanding changes to the electoral law approved by parliament in July 2012, which increased the number of seats to 150 and gave the electorate two votes - one for a district representative and one for national-level lists that include political parties - replacing the single non-transferable vote. | They are also demanding changes to the electoral law approved by parliament in July 2012, which increased the number of seats to 150 and gave the electorate two votes - one for a district representative and one for national-level lists that include political parties - replacing the single non-transferable vote. |
| Opposition parties demanded that 50% of seats be allocated to party lists, but the new electoral law gave them just 27 seats, or 18%. And more than two-thirds of Jordan's 7 million people live in cities but are allocated less than a third of the seats. | |
| The amendments also appeared to strengthen the hand of supporters of the king by allowing members of the security forces to vote for the first time and allocating more seats to women from Bedouin districts. | The amendments also appeared to strengthen the hand of supporters of the king by allowing members of the security forces to vote for the first time and allocating more seats to women from Bedouin districts. |
| This, the opposition argues, would continue to marginalise Jordanians of Palestinian origin in favour of those descended from Jordan's original Bedouin inhabitants, whose tribes dominate the government and security forces and are the bedrock of the monarchy. | |
| "This is a sham election whose results will only erode the credibility of the future parliament," said Zaki Bani Rusheid of the Muslim Brotherhood. | "This is a sham election whose results will only erode the credibility of the future parliament," said Zaki Bani Rusheid of the Muslim Brotherhood. |
| The BBC's Dale Gavlak in Amman says the turnout on Wednesday could show how much trust the public has in the king's reform agenda. | The BBC's Dale Gavlak in Amman says the turnout on Wednesday could show how much trust the public has in the king's reform agenda. |