Jordanian government declare intention not to postpone the elections

The Jordanian prime minister Ali Abul Ragheb said that his government has no intention to postpone the legislative elections which will be held on June 17, noting that these elections are a constitutional requirements and there is no reason to postpone it.

During his meeting with chief editors of the local Jordanian dailies yesterday, he said that the government is currently fulfilling its duty to prepare for the elections on time. He called on the Jordanian voters to take part intensively in the voting operation and vowed to have the elections "free and honest" and "the measures to be smooth and transparent." The Jordanian prime minister announced on February 27th that the forthcoming legislative elections in Jordan following the desolving of the parliament in June 2001 will be held on June 17, this year.

The parliamentary elections were basically set in September 2002, but the Jordanian king decided in July, 2002 to postpone it until the spring of 2003 due to the situation in the region. A matter which raised strong criticisms by the side of the Jordanian opposition.