30.03.2024
- Activists in Talbieh Camp and al-Jizah District stressed the importance of communication between people and parties and emphasized the need to achieve political maturity to ensure enhanced participation in civic processes.
Al-Quds Center for Political Studies held a dialogue seminar with the Talbieh Camp Services Committee with the participation of more than 70 community activists in Talbieh Camp and al-Jizah District entitled: "Political Participation is our Way to Strengthen Jordan and Support Palestine", in which Amman Municipality Council Member Ms. Rania Al-Kouz and former MP Mr. Nabil Ghishan spoke.
Mrs. Al-Kouz highlighted the legislative environment and opportunities for women to enhance their political participation, in particular Ms. Al-Kouz highlighted the law on political parties and the requirement that 20% of the founding members be women, and called on women to vote and participate, as participation helps to bring women into the decision-making process. Al-Kouz also noted that the outcomes of political discussion have created a friendly environment for political and intellectual debate among political actors.
Al-Kouz touched on her journey in public work and her participation in local elections as a member of the Amman Municipality Council, stressing that one of the reasons for her success was her interest in public work. Al-Kouz called on women to pay more attention to public and community work in their local communities, as this will greatly increase their chances of reaching decision-making centers and becoming members of elected councils at all levels.
Former MP, writer, and political analyst Nabil Ghishan stressed the importance of conducting the parliamentary elections in a different way, stressing the need to fight and punish both the perpetrators and the practice of vote-buying. He also called for allowing political parties and citizens to participate in the political process without any restrictions or interference, stressing the importance of providing the appropriate environment, culture and intellectual awareness that would strengthen political engagement, which is one of the elements of a strong and legitimate political system.
Ghishan also stressed the importance of improving the role of the media, which can play a greater role in supporting the official and popular Jordanian position on what is happening in the Palestinian territories. He also called for achieving real democracy and opening channels of dialogue and discussion between elected councils and the public, as this will contribute to increasing citizens' confidence in representative councils and political parties, thereby increasing voter turnout.
Comments from the audience focused on clarifying the electoral boundaries of Talbieh Camp and the distribution of parliamentary and local constituencies. This affects the extent of Talbieh Camp's impact on the results of the elections, especially the parliamentary elections, due to its small size and population compared to other areas that fall within its constituency. Participants also stressed the importance of combating cases of buying parliamentary seats and political parties, as well as increasing voter turnout.
Participants also stressed the importance of combating the practice of vote buying during the election period and working to raise awareness of the importance of participation in elections and political parties to create a state of political maturity among citizens. Participants also stressed the importance of permanent communication between citizens and the political authority to increase trust in the political and electoral process.
Participants also noted the challenges facing party work, especially the emergence of people who held political and official positions before joining parties, pointing out that this phenomenon weakens public trust in political organizations.
In his speech, Oraib al-Rantawi, Director of the Al-Quds Centre for Political Studies, stressed the importance of strengthening civil society in order to face the dangers and challenges facing Jordan internally and externally, stressing the role of the media in supporting Jordan and its positions on the Palestinian cause and the war on Gaza, which are advanced positions compared to other Arab and regional positions. Al-Rantawi pointed out that the way to strengthen civil society is to elect a strong parliament that represents the different sectors and groups of society, stressing the need to go to the ballot box.
Al-Rantawi stressed that Jordan's adversaries, represented by the extreme right-wing ruling party in Israel, believe that the way to achieve their interests is to create a state of chaos in the countries of the region, especially in Jordan, and that the way to forestall Israeli plans for regional destabilization is through activating the role of political parties and electing a strong parliament.
@ All rights shall be reserved. for Al Quds Center for Political Studies
