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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Asharq Al-Awsat

Jordan Holds Parliamentary Elections Amid Virus Surge

A general view shows Al-Baqaa Palestinian refugee camp, near Amman, Jordan, June 13, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed

Jordanians began voting on Tuesday to elect a new parliament by the time COVID-19 cases continue to rise.

Voters will elect 130 members of the lower house of parliament, with 15 seats reserved for women, nine for Christians and three for Chechens and Circassians.

More than 4.5 million Jordanians are eligible to vote in 23 constituencies.

Authorities said they have taken the necessary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at polling stations, but the outbreak could dampen participation.

The government has imposed periodic lockdowns and curfews since the start of the pandemic, The Associated Press reported. It plans to impose a 24-hour curfew for four days, beginning Wednesday.

The kingdom, which has a population of around 10 million, reported 5,665 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday, bringing its total since the start of the pandemic to nearly 115,000. It has reported 1,295 deaths.

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