AMMAN — Three Jordanian political parties are moving towards a merger under the name “Change Party”, according to the secretary-general of the Parties Register at the Independent Election Commission (IEC).

 

The Jordanian Shura Party, the New Path Party and the National Integration Party are expected to complete internal party conferences in the coming weeks to formally approve the merger, IEC official Ahmad Abu Zeid said.

 

The commission is awaiting the completion of those conferences before finalising the merger procedures, he added.

 

Abu Zeid said the move followed earlier unifications among parties with similar programmes and political visions, reflecting a broader effort to reorganise the party scene.

 

He said the judiciary is still considering two cases seeking the dissolution of two political parties following lawsuits filed by the IEC’s Board of Commissioners over financial violations.

 

One case remains under appeal, while the other is still before the Court of Appeal, he said.

 

Abu Zeid added, “The IEC continues to hold meetings with political parties to strengthen governance within their internal bylaws.”

 

Fifteen parties have already met governance requirements, while the Commission is still reviewing the bylaws of another 15 parties, he said, adding that two parties remain suspended pending judicial rulings.

 

Official data from the Parties Register show that 85,425 Jordanians are currently registered as members of political parties, with the highest figures recorded in Amman, Irbid, Zarqa and Balqa.

 

Abu Zeid stressed that membership numbers alone are not an indicator of political success, saying party performance should be measured by voter confidence and electoral outcomes rather than raw membership figures.

 

According to the IEC, women currently hold 18 per cent of leadership positions within political parties.

 

The planned merger comes as part of a wider restructuring of Jordan’s party landscape. Five political parties have already announced mergers, with further consolidations expected in the coming period.

 

Political science expert Areej Jabr said that the wave of party mergers reflects the first real test of Jordan’s political modernisation process and the new party law.

 

“Many parties proved fragile and personal rather than programme-based,” she said. “The initial electoral experience exposed structural weaknesses and pushed parties to reassess their ability to survive and play a meaningful role in political life.”

 

She said that consolidation offers an opportunity to correct fragmentation.

 

“Mergers allow parties to move from quantity to quality by unifying programmes, strengthening leadership structures and building broader social representation,” Jabr said, describing the process as essential for developing credible national parties.

 

Political analyst Mohammad Jarwan said that party mergers have become a practical response to challenges facing political parties.

 

“Jordan has witnessed several mergers, particularly within alliances formed for the 2024 parliamentary elections,” he said, noting that consolidation helps reorganise party work and unify the efforts of ideologically aligned parties.

 

He added that merging offers solutions to financial constraints and leadership disputes, making it a more sustainable option for parties facing organisational pressure.

 

The coming period is expected to test the ability of newly merged parties to translate consolidation into political effectiveness, as Jordan’s party scene continues to evolve under the political modernisation framework