Jordanians vote for mayors for first time in polls hailed part of reforms

The top opposition group withdrew from Jordan's first ever elections for city mayors on Tuesday and accused the government of fraud, marring a vote that this key U.S. ally describes as part of a democratic reform package.

The election was the first time Jordanians have been able to directly elect their mayors, who previously were appointed by the king. They were also electing all members of their municipal councils, in which half the members used to be appointed by the king.

Several hours into the voting, the main opposition group, the fundamentalist Islamic Action Front, said it was withdrawing from the poll, claiming fraud.

"We can no longer take part in this farce and we announce the withdrawal of all our candidates from all governorates," it said in a statement.

Subscribe to Pravda.Ru Telegram channel, Facebook, RSS!

Author`s name Angela Antonova
*
X