Jordanians protest against proposed electoral law

Hundreds of Jordanians have rallied in the capital, Amman, to protest against a proposed electoral law, saying it “rigs people’s will.”

Jordanian protesters say although the new law scraps a contested one-person-one-vote system, it is still far from their demands over limited seats it allocates to political parties, AFP reported.

“The people reject martial laws. We demand a modern and democratic elections law,” read a banner carried by demonstrators as they marched from Al-Husseni mosque to nearby city hall on Friday.

The proposed law, recently announced by the government, increases the number of seats in parliament to 138 from 120, but it gives the country’s 23 political parties only 15 seats.

“How can we have such a law in a time of Arab Spring? People here keep waiting for reforms but all what they get is corruption and more corruption,” Muslim Brotherhood leader Hammam Said told demonstrators.

It also expands the number of female lawmakers from 12 to 15. The draft law is currently awaiting parliamentary approval.

Jordanians have been holding street protests demanding political reforms, including the election of the prime minister by popular vote, and an end to corruption since January 2011. There have been no calls for the king to be removed.

Since the beginning of protest rallies, Jordanian ruler King Abdullah II has sacked two prime ministers in a bid to avoid more protests. Awn al-Khasawneh is Jordan’s third premier this year.

The king has also amended 42 articles of the 60-year-old constitution, giving parliament a stronger role in decision-making.