Hattar not running
Nahid Hattar, with support for a group called the “Jordanian Social Left”, has been considering running for the Christian seat in the third district of Amman. He is one of the few candidates who have coherent opposition ideas about issues related to wealth distribution, the role of the state, privatization and other economic and social priorities. I reviewed his book a while back. In it he expounded on his themes.
In an announcement issued by the JSL, it was announced that Hattar would actually not run, and complained that vote buying, transfer of votes for the benefit of specific candidates, political and logistical support for specific candidates as well as manipulation of electoral alliances for the benefit of specific candidates had poisoned his chance to win.
It was always hard to imagine Hattar winning in the third district. His message is not really designed for the compradors and petty bourgeois who dominate the district. And while he may have some tribal base there, he has pointedly rejected using that card as a matter of principle (although he would have been happy to ally himself with the Islamists, had they agreed).
Hattar would have had a better chance in a working-class district. The Christian seat in the first district in Zerqa would have probably been a better bet. Bassam Haddadin won that seat in 2003 with a mere 3065 votes (4.6% of the votes cast). The competition on the seat this year is meager as well.
It is too bad that Hattar will not be in the next parliament. He has refreshing if somewhat controversial ideas.
Labels: Parliamentary elections 2007
posted by Khalaf @ 3:01 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
My friend this is truly a disappointment for those of us who dream of a better tomorrow, Nahid is not running and two days ago Husien Emjalli announced he is not running for almost the same reasons and god knows who else will pull out too, I'm not only disappointed but I also feel that these good people let us Jordanians down, aparliament without at least 30 to 40% opposition is almost a joke.
I can understand their fears and concerns but I believe they should've at least tried.
" every accomplishment starts with the decision to try".
I agree. A major part of the problem of lack of serious discourse is that political parties and real politicians are not doing their part. I have written about this a number of times.
Politics takes courage and stamina. I am hoping that eventually we will see historic leadership in this field emerge.
Looks like Toujan Faisal won't be a candidate either, since her application got rejected due to her previous conviction by the military courts!
You'd think that if the king could issue a "special pardon" to get her out of jail, he could issue a "special permit" to allow her application for running to go through, or could have a "special conversation" with the head of the elections commission asking them to look the other way.
Sometimes, lack of action on one's part is just as bad as action from another!
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