Jordan's Union Elections: The Battle for Influence Between Islamists and the State

Union elections in Jordan attract significant attention from both political forces and government bodies alike, as they involve nearly half a million members from various sectors of society. As such, they represent one of the most prominent aspects of the country’s political and social movement.

The elections, held every three years, saw their most recent iteration in 2022, during which several prominent lists, particularly within the Engineers Syndicate—one of the largest in Jordan—pulled out. 

This came amid accusations that the government had intervened and manipulated the results in favor of groups aligned with it.

Election Interference

In 2022, the Islamic Action Front (the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan) warned against a repeat of the events during that year in the upcoming 2025 elections. 

The party called for an end to the interference practices in the professional syndicate elections, in a memorandum addressed to Jordan's Prime Minister, Jafar Hassan, in early February 2025.

The party stressed in its memorandum that such interventions, carried out by certain security bodies, could harm national unity and tarnish the country's image at a time when Jordan needs to consolidate its domestic front to face both internal and external challenges.

"The interventions involve both threats and inducements directed at candidates, leading to the withdrawal of many, as well as the imposition of candidates who have no connection to syndicate work and lack support from the general assemblies," Wael al-Saqqa, The party's Secretary-General, noted.

Al-Saqqa accused official bodies of paying collective membership fees for some security personnel and unemployed youth to steer them towards voting for certain candidates. 

He also pointed to the unlawful delay in holding the Teachers' Syndicate elections, which affected the services of over 120,000 teachers.

Al-Saqqa emphasized that these practices pose a threat to democracy and are in direct contradiction to the political reform process in Jordan. 

He noted that they contribute to the decline in the role and influence of professional syndicates within Jordanian society. 

Al-Saqqa warned that the repetition of such interventions reflects the deteriorating performance of these organizations and deepens members' lack of faith in their true representation within these bodies.

"The scenario of the 2022 Engineers Syndicate elections was repeated this year in several branches, particularly in Zarqa and Irbid," said Abdullah Obeidat, the Deputy Supervisor of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan and former head of the Engineers Syndicate.

On February 2, 2025, al-Bosala reported that Obeidat stated the interventions had become more intense and organized. 

“The elections were being directed through the mobilization of tribes, official and unofficial institutions, as well as clubs and municipalities, which directly influenced the course of the electoral process.”

“Those engineering the elections fail to realize that manipulating results and inciting sectarianism are crimes under Jordanian law.”

“What transpired in the Zarqa branch elections involved stirring sectarian tensions and spending hundreds of thousands of dinars to rally voters against candidates associated with the Islamic Action Front,” Obeidat noted.

The syndicate elections began in early February 2025 and will continue through May of the same year. 

The elections are held in stages, starting with the election of branch representatives and sections, culminating in the selection of the leadership body for each syndicate.

Syndicate Politics

Regarding the significance of syndicates in Jordan, political writer and analyst Hazem Ayyad explained that their importance stems from the nature and composition of these organizations, as well as their membership numbers.

With 500,000 members in their general assemblies, they represent approximately 5% of Jordan’s population.

In an interview with Al-Estiklal, Ayyad elaborated that these institutions include the country’s educated, professional, skilled, and economically active elite. They represent key productive and economic sectors, with social impacts and political roles within Jordanian society, which they exercise through professional syndicates.

"The existence of this large bloc of professional, skilled, and economic activity sometimes translates into political effects. It has economic and social interests, influencing political proposals, laws, and discussions within Jordan. It also takes positions on foreign and regional policy issues due to its broad representation of Jordanian society and its weight and ability to influence."

"When political and partisan life was suspended at a certain point in Jordan’s history, the syndicates represented, at that time, the open space for political activity and movement in the country. Although this role has diminished with the rise of parliament and political parties, they still remain one of the key players in the political arena."

"The importance of the syndicate elections lies in their reflection of the general political mood in Jordan, as well as the ongoing tug-of-war between the state and sovereign institutions on one hand, and civil society institutions on the other. This dynamic is a constant feature in any country where there is space for freedom and political activity."

"The current elections have witnessed significant tensions, especially as the syndicates are now grappling with a major financial crisis, compounded by the absence of political collectives—most notably the Islamic Action Front—from the membership of many professional syndicates," Ayyad said.

"One of the sensitive issues surrounding the debates and election campaigns is the financial situation of the syndicates, the future of membership, and pension funds, alongside major political issues such as the war in Gaza and political stances on regional transformations."

"There are significant opportunities for Islamists and the Islamic Action Front to secure seats, particularly in the preliminary elections for the sections, where they have swept some, especially in the capital, Amman."

"A tendency towards reaching understandings and rapprochement between the conservative camp close to the state, Islamist factions, particularly the Islamic Action Front, and even with other left-wing groups categorized as opposition."

"These alliances reflect a shift towards participatory elections that allow for the distribution of positions," adding that "the Islamic Action Front is leaning towards preferring to hold the position of deputy president rather than the president, as part of an understanding with other blocs participating in the current elections," Ayyad concluded.

Syndicate Decline

In contrast, unionist Hisham Bustani, representing the leftist camp, stated that "Jordanian professional syndicates have been one of the most prominent facets of political and social activism in the country. They have championed sensitive issues such as resisting normalization, defending the Palestinian cause, opposing government economic policies, and advocating for public freedoms."

"The transformations witnessed by the syndicates in their roles, following the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood and their use of this control as a tool in their struggle with the state, as well as the infiltration of government-aligned forces, led to a decline in the influence of nationalist and leftist forces," Bustani stated in an interview with Independent Arabia.

"In the past, the syndicates represented the conscience of society, but today they have become a tool in the political struggle between the state and Islamic forces. In recent years, we have witnessed the rise of syndicate leaders from powerful economic backgrounds."

In his critique of the management of the syndicates by government-aligned entities, Bustani stated, "Jordanian professional syndicates, which were once at the forefront of the political and social scene, have abandoned their role as the driving force of popular activism, instead adapting to the prevailing political reality."

Professional syndicates in Jordan are among the most prominent civil society institutions. They provide their members with a range of essential services, including loans, housing plans, health insurance, retirement pensions, and other benefits. Additionally, they serve as a social safety net for their members.

Since the 1990s, the Islamist movement, specifically the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, has dominated several professional syndicates, particularly the Engineers, Lawyers, and Doctors Syndicates. 

More recently, the Teachers’ Syndicate, which was shut down by a judicial order in 2020, also fell under their influence.

According to Independent Arabia, Jordan's professional syndicates have witnessed a noticeable decline in their role and presence, compared to their golden years in the 1990s and early 2000s, when they were among the most prominent actors in the political and social scene.

In 2022, the Jordanian government faced accusations of interfering in the syndicate elections, controlling them, and influencing their results in favor of politically aligned entities. 

This led to the withdrawal of candidates from the Muslim Brotherhood from many of these syndicates, further highlighting the decline of the syndicates' influence in Jordanian society.