AMMAN // Jordan’s Islamists made a return to parliament with 16 seats in the 130-member house, it was announced Thursday.
A coalition of parties led by the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, won six seats in 2007, the last time they took part in elections.
The IAF contested Tuesday’s polls after boycotting two previous elections, in 2010 and 2013, in protest at the electoral system and alleged voting fraud. They took part this time after Jordan adopted a proportional representation system.
As in past elections, most seats went to businessmen and tribal figures close to the monarchy, preliminary results showed.
At least 20 women were elected, five above the quota reserved for women.
Only 1.5 million of a 4.1-million electorate cast ballots. Experts said this reflected a lack of enthusiasm for a parliament with limited power to affect government policy.
* Agencies
