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On August 15 2017, Jordan saw municipal election held according to the local councils system for the first time. These are smaller units which make the municipal councils. The step coincides this year with the decentralization election. The first experience of its kind after the Decentralization Law no. 49 of 2015 aimed at carrying out the organizational principle at the governorate level by granting local administrations broader powers. Basically, the two processes are intended by the government to widen the democratic choice as the state approach for action and to encourage further public participation in the development decisions. The turnout amounted to 4.460 million, making 31.7% of those eligible to vote. The least percentage was recorded in Amman by 17.5%. Again, the results indicate the weakness of the Jordanian parties in seizing the ballot opportunity to enhance their popularity. They only won 3.5% of the 2444 seats of the local, municipal and governorate councils, including Greater Amman. Other than that of Zarka, they only got 6 small and marginal municipalities out of the total 100, Finally, the National Alliance for Reform, led by the Islamic Action Front Party, made some progress, mainly in leading Zarka Municipality. On the other hand, advancing through competition and quota, women managed to gain 25% of the total seats.
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