AMMAN, Jordan — Thousands of Jordanians rallied Friday to call for a boycott of coming legislative elections, a challenge to King Abdullah II who has promoted a parliament-centered overhaul process to stave off an Arab Spring uprising in his country.
The protest in downtown Amman was the largest in nearly 22 months of weekly protests in Jordan. It is meant to show that the king’s critics can push for change through the streets, rather than through a legislature that critics say in its current form is too beholden to the monarchy.
The demonstration came a day after Abdullah dissolved the parliament halfway through its four-year term, setting the stage for new elections. No date is set yet for the polls, but they are expected at the end of this year or early in 2013.
Jordan at present is in little danger of seeing mass upheaval, such as that which toppled regimes in Egypt and other Arab countries in 2011.
Front Section, Pages 8 on 10/06/2012