The blow finally came last week at the elections of the Jordan Medical Association. For the first time in 10 years, a nationalist was chosen as president of the JMA replacing the traditional Islamists who had consistently ruled the council. Dr Mohammed Al-Ouran, a Lower House deputy, managed to scrape past by a few hundred votes.
The Islamists tried to play down their election loss. After all, they maintain a stranglehold on many other Professional Associations. But though a loss by a few hundred votes does not seem serious, the underlying trend should cause them concern. For the last four years, the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamic Action Front led a lethargic existence, feeling pleased with their impressive body of support in the Kingdom. After all, they argued, they still controlled the major local and civic institutions in Jordan. Well so they did.
But, like it or not, the election of Al-Ouran to head the Medical Association could be a message that Jordanian society is making a perceptible move to the nationalist camp - and even to the Left. If this is happening, the Islamists may expect a rough time ahead. So despite the brave face they are putting on, abandoning parliamentary life since 1997 may have done them considerable harm. The chickens may now becoming home to roost. Some might argue that by not running they have weakened Jordan's political institutions and democracy. And they have allowed themselves to be "isolated" from the Kingdom's political culture.
With the benefit of hindsight, one can see that the Islamic movements' decision not to run in the 1997 election was short-sighted and lacked political wisdom. If elections are now postponed, they could be in the wilderness for at least another two years. Whilst the Government has been saying that the elections will probably be held on time, i.e. in November, officials and Prime Minister Ali Abul Ragheb point out that the election could be put off because it is the King's prerogative to extend the life of this parliament. People already know the King has the final say, and so it should be.
A certain "stop-go" attitude is branded about in the country. The "yes we may have an election and no we may not" attitude displayed by certain members of the government, officials and Lower House deputies cannot be healthy for the Kingdom's democratic life or its political forces. No one can say who are the targets - the Islamists, the nationalists or even the leftists.
Those already in the Lower House should know where they stand for the benefit of their constituents if nothing else. Unfortunately, they are a factor in the uncertain timing of the election date. Some want elections in November, but apparently the majority does not. There have been voices here and there about financial hardship, and how much it would cost the Government to stage elections. So quite a number of deputies are opting for postponement.
Shocking? not really! After all, representative democracy will not be seriously harmed or undermined. The deputies and the Government will have another two years to wait for an economic turnaround, which is practically around the corner! As for the Islamists, well, they'll have to wait their turn in the picking order of political life.
