Jordan Daily – In a session titled “Women and Key Roles,” held Monday as part of the opening of the media center for Jordan’s 2024 parliamentary elections at King Hussein Sports City, speakers called on Jordanian women to increase their political participation by heading to the polls on Tuesday.
The session focused on how recent electoral and political party laws have created a significant opportunity for women to engage more fully in the political process.
Wafaa Bani Mustafa, Minister of Social Development and chair of the Ministerial Committee for Women’s Empowerment, emphasized that the committee is part of a broader, coordinated government effort. She noted that King Abdullah II has directed the government to provide full support to the Independent Election Commission to ensure a smooth and successful election.
Bani Mustafa underscored that the king’s directive reflects a broader goal of ensuring the success of this democratic exercise, which she described as the first step in implementing the recommendations of the Royal Committee to Modernize the Political System. This process, she said, is unfolding in three phases.
Tuesday’s election marks the first phase, during which political parties will secure 41 seats in parliament. The second phase will see party representatives occupy half of the seats in the next parliament, with the third phase to follow.
Bani Mustafa made clear that the outcome of this election should not be seen as the culmination of political modernization, but rather as an essential “exercise” for political parties to present programs that resonate with voters.
She also stressed the importance of looking beyond the immediate results, urging all stakeholders to build on this election as a step toward the broader goals of political reform.
