jordan pulse -

Prof Ali Hyasat – Former prime minister Abdullah Ensour sparked wide debate after revealing in a media interview that former intelligence chief Gen Mohammad Dhahabi summoned him in 2007 and barred him from running in parliamentary elections.

Although Ensour later contested the 2010 polls, won a seat, and became premier in 2012, his late disclosure came as part of a personal account of his career. Political figures often record such testimonies toward the end of their public life.

The statement carries documentary weight, shedding light on the deep state’s role in Jordan’s elections across different phases—from the landmark 1989 vote through the election laws of the 1990s, and the polls of 2007, 2010, and 2013. While some criticised the timing, the testimony enriches political history by showing how institutional practices persisted even as individual actors changed, with Dhahabi later tried and imprisoned for nearly 13 years.

Ensour himself described the 1989 elections as the cleanest in Jordan’s history, a view that invites comparison with later polls, including the 2013 elections held under his premiership. The implicit comparison suggests electoral integrity has yet to reach an ideal level, with the deep state remaining present to varying degrees.

In my view, Ensour’s remarks remind society that electoral integrity remains unsettled, and political reform requires not only recalling past testimonies but also ensuring present practices that guarantee cleaner, more transparent elections—with public awareness playing a decisive role in accountability.