AMMAN — Five political parties have announced their merger so far, with more consolidations expected in the coming period, according to Secretary-General of the Political Parties Register at the Independent Election Commission (IEC) Ahmad Abu Zaid.

Speaking to the public service TV Al Mamlaka on Saturday, Abu Zaid said that the Irada and Taqaddom parties have officially merged under a new name, Mubadara Party. He noted that Jordan currently has 35 registered political parties, reflecting ongoing adjustments within the country’s evolving political landscape.

Abu Zaid stressed that the decision to merge lies entirely with the parties themselves, while the IEC’s role is limited to ensuring that all procedures comply with the Political Parties Law.

“The authority of the IEC does not extend to influencing party decisions,” he said.

 

“Our role is to verify that the merger procedures are consistent with the provisions of the law.”

He added that political parties play a central role in raising public awareness about political participation and communicating their economic and social programs to citizens.

“Parties must work to inform citizens about their objectives and vision for the future,” Abu Zaid said, calling for stronger engagement between parties and the public ahead of upcoming electoral milestones.

The recent wave of mergers, he explained, represents a new phase in Jordan’s ongoing political reform, as parties seek to consolidate their efforts and form more effective political entities capable of competing in future elections.

Sharing this perspective, MP Dina Bashir said the developments mark a “maturing phase” in Jordan’s political life rather than a simple legal adjustment.

“What we are witnessing today is the result of parties practicing political life in the way envisioned for the next stage,” she told The Jordan Times.

 


“Many parties realised after the elections that there is an urgent need for alignment between those sharing similar visions and ideologies,to form stronger, more effective entities capable of managing their affairs, expanding their parliamentary presence, and implementing realistic programmes on the ground.”

Bashir added that while some parties faced technical challenges during registration, “most of these mergers involve fully established, legally recognised parties that chose to unify their efforts to achieve the goals of political reform as reflected in the Political Parties and Elections Laws.”

Building on this progress, Abu Zaid said that the IEC continues to provide training and awareness programmes to strengthen the institutional and political capabilities of party members.

 

The commission is also reviewing 15 draft internal bylaws submitted by political parties as part of a post-election assessment to enhance governance and internal democracy, he said.

The current round of mergers comes as part of Jordan’s broader political modernisation process, launched under the Royal Committee to Modernise the Political System in 2021.

 

The reforms aim to consolidate smaller parties, encourage program-based politics, and increase youth and women's participation.

Under the revised Political Parties Law, parties must meet specific membership and gender representation thresholds and operate transparently and democratically.