Early Public Mobilization for Municipal Elections

There are also those who have decided to transition from decentralized elections to the upcoming municipal elections.

The Minister of Local Administration, Engineer Walid Al-Masri, had previously suggested that the elections would take place in the spring of next year.

However, names have begun to surface on the surface in social councils and social media platforms, whose owners wish to run.

What is the impact of this early mobilization on the electoral process and its reflection in the development of service in municipal work?

To answer this question, Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Jordan, Professor Dr. Laith Nasrawien, and a member of a temporary committee for a municipal council in one of Amman's suburbs, preferred not to disclose his name, spoke to «Istirah Al-Raei».

Nasrawein says that the early start of public mobilization for candidacy for the presidency of municipalities and membership of their councils, and the accompanying increase in the number of those wishing to run in the elections, can be considered a positive indicator of interest in local affairs and the desire to participate in their management and the advancement of municipal and developmental work.

Nasrawein added that candidacy is the right of every citizen who meets the legal conditions, and that the multiplicity of candidates gives the voter wider options, enhances competition, and allows more time to get to know potential candidates and discuss their ideas and programs.

He pointed out that this multitude may, on the other hand, carry a negative indicator, especially since the announcement of the desire to run began before the law came into effect and enough time had passed to understand the nature of municipal responsibility and comprehend the provisions of the new Local Administration Law and the powers and duties it entails. The law has not yet come into effect, and its application will be linked to a system of legislation and regulations that will be issued or amended based on it.

Dr. Nasrawien said that those who are considering running should start by studying the provisions of the law, understanding the nature of the municipal council and its competencies, and following the legislation related to it, in order to be able to explain them to citizens and build a realistic electoral program in light of them, instead of making promises that may go beyond the limits of the powers legally stipulated.

He added that the issue is not related to the number of candidates or the early announcement of the desire to run, but rather is linked to the quality of the competition that the elections will witness, and that the multiplicity of candidates enriches public life when it is accompanied by a real multiplicity of programs and visions, and the competition is based on efficiency and the ability to advance services and local development, away from personal, family, and regional considerations.

He concluded by saying that municipal work is a general responsibility, and the success of the experiment does not depend solely on the citizen's right to run, but also requires awareness of the nature of the task for which he is applying, and an electorate capable of distinguishing between candidates based on their programs and their ability to serve their local communities.

For his part, the member of the temporary committee said, «Through my work on the committee, I was able to learn about administrative and legal errors made by the Board of Directors, which was responsible before the committee took over its duties, which weakened the quality of municipal work».

He believes that these errors are due to the administrative and legal weakness of the council, on the one hand, and the social pressure to appease elites and influential people, on the other hand.

He pointed to the need for continuous communication between the council president and members, and citizens, to cooperate in making the council's work successful in providing the best services, by facilitating procedures for professional licenses - for example - and others, and improving infrastructure and public facilities, thereby gaining the trust of the citizen.

He also pointed to the error of conflicting powers of employees, which has a negative impact on citizens when they visit the council, to move between offices and spend time without completing their transactions.

He called for a comprehensive and well-studied plan by specialists to be implemented in the work of such important institutions in the state and their service role for citizens.

The fifty-year-old Muhammad Salem Assaf, who ran in the previous elections as a member and was not lucky and the difference was small, which motivates him to run again, said.

He pointed to that experience that made him maintain his contact with the local community and his experience in public work.

He said, «I contacted the president and members of the previous municipal council, and I currently contact the president and members of the current temporary committee to exchange information and many ideas that would improve services, regardless of whether I succeed in the upcoming elections or not».