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TIME: Almanac 1990
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1990 Time Magazine Compact Almanac, The (1991)(Time).iso
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1990-09-19
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WORLD, Page 50JORDANBye-Bye ModeratesA ballot surprise for Hussein
In preparing his subjects for Jordan's first parliamentary
elections in 22 years, King Hussein offered a piece of advice:
avoid voting for "extremists." But when voters went to the polls
last week, they ignored his warning in fairly spectacular fashion.
With 647 candidates running for 80 seats, the biggest winner turned
out to be the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood. Its candidates and
supporters won 34 seats. The Communists and others of the far left
also made gains. By contrast, the moderate factions that Hussein
has entrusted with day-to-day power for more than two decades
suffered heavy losses.
The elections were prompted by rioting last April among
Jordan's Bedouin community, the base of Hussein's support, to
protest consumer price hikes. In addition, there was widespread
suspicion that recent governments have been riddled with
corruption. But the strong showing by the fundamentalists suggested
a rejection of the secular Western values personified by the King
himself.
Jordan's new Parliament is the first to reflect Hussein's
decision last year to sever the country's administrative and legal
links to the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Half the members of the
previous Parliament had theoretically represented the West Bank;
all members of the new Parliament are residents of the East Bank.
Hussein's change of policy posed a dilemma for Jordanians of
Palestinian origin. Most of them wanted to vote, but by doing so
some feared they might be adding fuel to the argument of right-wing
Israelis that Jordan, rather than the West Bank, should be viewed
as the true Palestinian homeland.
The King pronounced himself "quite satisfied" with the election
outcome. But the potential exists for Muslim Brotherhood
legislators to form a coalition with radical leftists to embarrass
him. To be sure, the Hashemite King retains the power to disband
Parliament and rule without it. But after calling the elections
under popular pressure, he would presumably be reluctant to
exercise such authority.