Amman, 19 November 2024
Member of the European Parliament and Chief Observer of the European Election Observation Mission Željana Zovko presented the final report of the mission on Jordan’s 10 September 2024 parliamentary elections.
Zovko first thank the Jordanian authorities and the Independent Election Commission for inviting the Election Observation Mission and stated it was an honour to have the opportunity to witness the first key election of Jordan modernization process. She recalled that on the election day on 10 September, more than 120 observers were present from the 27 EU member states as well as from Norway, Canada and Switzerland.
The final report brings together the findings of the Election Observation Mission observations and gives detailed analysis of all stages of the election, from the candidate registration process to the tabulation and announce of election results. Zovko stressed this election was the first after the adoption of the new election law, and the new law on political parties in 2022. She added that during the course of the mission, observers noticed new practices implementing recommendations made by previous missions, insisting that this demonstrates the valuable partnership in the field of electoral reform and signal some positive developments already ahead of election day. This included for example positive legislative changes which strengthen youth and women participation in politics and in particular lowering the minimum age for candidates from 30 to 25 years old.
Zovko pointed out the Independent Election Commission demonstrated an unprecedented level of openness to the Election Observation Mission and conducted the election efficiently, in line with legal deadlines and with an inclusive and well managed process for voters and candidates registration. The 138 members of the House were elected among 1623 candidates, thus offering a genuine choice to voters. Zovko also added the mission welcomes the success of the gender quota and hopes this progress will continue to evolve in the coming years.
Moreover, most candidates met by the Election Observation Mission expressed satisfaction with access to election administration and confidence in its impartiality. Likewise, Zovko stressed the introduction of new election technology was well prepared an allowed fast access to election results.
Zovko also presented 7 priority recommendations out of the 18 recommendations of the final report for possible enhancements for future electoral processes.
She first highlighted the low level of knowledge among voters and the need for the Independent Election Commission to reinforce its voters education efforts by for example developing long term education programs. Furthermore, the report concludes that there are gaps in campaign regulation, such as for example ambiguity regarding campaign on election day, especially in media and social media and inside and outside polling centres. For this reason, Zovko stressed that the mission recommends to set up effective mechanisms to consistently implement campaign regulation.
Zovko added campaign finance rules were widely disregarded and the mission recommends enhancing transparency in campaign finance by improving accountability and enforcement rules, as well as ensuring the Independent Election Commission is adequately trained and resourced to carry out effective oversight.
In addition, Zovko said observers reported a certain level of self censorship on the political discourse during the campaign; The mission identified some legal impediments to the full enjoyment of freedom of expression. For his reason, the report emphasised the need to decriminalise defamation in the Cybercrime Law and Penal Code to ensure due exercise of the freedom of expression. On this subject, Zovko pointed out that this however does not exclude the responsibility of the media to give candidates opportunities to explain their programs.
Regarding the subject of accessibility, Zovko stated that positively the Independent Election Commission set up 95 qualified polling centres to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. Nevertheless, in regular polling centres, only 55% were accessible. In light of this finding, the mission recommends to improve access and opportunity to vote for persons with disabilities by ensuring independent access to polling stations.
Zovko also said that positively the Independent Election Commission conducted an inclusive accreditation process and domestic observes did not report any obstacles to their work. Zovko emphasised these good practices could be underpinned with legal guarantees by incorporating in the election law the right of observers to have unhindered access to the entire electoral process.
The remaining 11 of the total 18 recommendations address other aspects of regulation and implementation mechanisms relating to election administration, campaign finance, media and social media and the representation and voting of persons with disabilities.
Zovko stressed that these recommendations are presented in a spirit of support and cooperation and that the mission hopes that its findings and recommendations can contribute to enhance transparency and inclusion in election process in the future, adding there is always room for improvement in every country.
“The EU stands ready to support Jordanian stakeholders in implementing these recommendations to further strengthen the country’s electoral process”.