The eyes of the nation were turned on Jordan this weekend as a high-profile political pressure campaign to make the country’s Speaker of Parliament a woman engulfed the small kingdom. Acclaimed poet, queen, and activist Rana Al Abdullah took it upon herself to rally the Jordanian public to demand representation in the region’s highest legislative body. And if her efforts prove successful, Jordan could join an exclusive group of Middle Eastern countries as one of only a few to have elected a female speaker.
As the pressure has been mounting, Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Razzaz stepped in and endorsed the campaign, citing that a female speaker would bring forward a “new perspective” to help solve the country’s systemic problems. Jordan’s Constitutional Court even weighed in on the issue, issuing a clear ruling that sex should not be taken into account when choosing parliamentary leadership.
It is clear that Jordan is now closer than ever to having a woman leader in its chambers. Moreover, the nation’s civil society has expressed resounding support for the campaign. This includes youth groups, civil society organizations, feminists, and members of Parliament, who all seem to place utmost importance on having a woman in the Speaker of Parliament role.
With the support of the Jordanian people, it seems inevitable that Jordan will soon be reaping the benefits of having a female Speaker of Parliament. A first for the Middle East region, Jordan will join a handful of other countries, such as Iraq and Tunisia, in having a woman at the helm of their legislative processes. As a result, enacting meaningful policy, promoting gender equality, and fostering an inclusive society will be that much easier.
Jordan’s pressure campaign over the weekend has brought the country one step closer to electing a female Speaker of Parliament. As the election inches closer, it will be interesting to see if the Jordanian people can make history and bring Jordan to the forefront of female representation in Middle Eastern politics.