Hence, this phase should be an opportunity to read the newly introduced legal texts and understand their provisions, and to learn about the nature of the municipal council and its competencies, and the limits of the relationship between it and the governorate councils and other administrative bodies, as drawn by the new law. This legal understanding should be reflected in the electoral programs of the candidates; it is easy to make promises to establish projects and improve public services, but the real value of any electoral program lies in its feasibility and its harmony with the powers specified by the law.
The competition needed for municipal elections should be based on programs and visions related to how to manage Jordanian cities and villages, develop their services, invest their resources, and address their problems, away from personal, family, or regional considerations. Here, the responsibility of the voter also emerges to differentiate between candidates based on competence, knowledge, and program, and not solely on social relations.
It is also important that the period before the elections does not turn into a long electoral campaign that drains the local community in early alignments and attractions. What we fear is that this enthusiasm will turn into a counterproductive result over time, as the voter feels bored by the abundance of names, advertisements, and promises, and his seriousness in dealing with some nominations that are announced before clear electoral programs are formulated for their owners decreases. The time available before the elections can be better invested in studying the reality of municipalities and their challenges, listening to citizens, and determining their priorities, leading to realistic and implementable electoral programs.
In conclusion, municipal work is a general responsibility that requires knowledge of the law, an understanding of the needs of the local community, and the ability to translate them into feasible programs. Those who seek the confidence of voters are required to understand the limits of their legal powers and the nature of the responsibility they will bear, and to know what they can do before telling them what they promise them.
* Professor of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law, Jordan University
l.nasrawin@ju.edu.jo
