AMMAN, Jordan – The National Democratic Institute (NDI) will field an international observation delegation for the Jan. 23 parliamentary elections in Jordan. The group, which includes 50 observers from 29 countries, is made up of a former head of state, former ambassadors and parliamentarians, current and former political party leaders, election officials, representatives of nongovernmental organizations and regional specialists.

Leading the mission are Jorge Quiroga, former president of Bolivia; Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission; Elizabeth Weir, former member of the New Brunswick, Canada, legislative assembly and former leader of the New Democratic Party in New Brunswick; and Leslie Campbell, NDI regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.

The delegation’s purpose is to demonstrate the international community’s continuing support for democratic processes in Jordan. In country, delegation members will meet with candidates, government and election officials as well as representatives of political parties, civil society, the media and the international community.

They will draw on the findings of a pre-election assessment mission completed by the Institute in November, as well as the analysis of NDI long-term observers who have been in the country since Dec. 15.

After briefings in Amman, teams of observers will deploy to locations around the country, where they will meet with local electoral authorities, party and media representatives, and domestic election monitors to assess the electoral environment. On election day, the NDI observers will visit polling stations. They will then return to Amman for debriefing and to prepare a preliminary statement, which will be released at a news conference tentatively scheduled for Jan. 24.

The NDI observer mission will conduct its activities in a nonpartisan, professional manner in accordance with Jordanian law and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.

NDI’s delegation is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).