Jordanian king urges Islamists to participate in upcoming elections
In rare TV interview, Abdullah II attempts to engage with the main opposition in his country
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan’s king is urging his country’s Islamist opposition to take part in upcoming elections, despite their dissatisfaction with reforms.
King Abdullah II made the appeal in a rare interview on Jordan TV on Sunday.
It appeared to be part of his attempt to engage with Islamists, who make up the main opposition in Jordan. Islamists have made gains all over the region after Arab Spring uprisings and show increasing strength in Jordan.
Abdullah promised that in the future, the parliament would select the prime minister — a main opposition demand. He insisted that “reform is irreversible.”
Islamists have rejected an election reform law as inadequate. The king chided them for seeing “only the empty half of the glass.”
Elections are expected later this year, but no date has been set.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.