Campaign posters still cluttering Kingdom’s streets — officials

AMMAN — While some candidates have committed to removing their campaign adverts after the recent parliamentary elections, some banners and posters are still displayed on the Kingdom’s streets, officials said on Sunday. 

In Amman, where the abundance of posters irritated some residents, the municipality gave candidates extra time to remove their banners from the capital’s streets and roundabouts.

“Candidates have started clearing up because the deposit they paid won’t be returned unless they remove their posters,” said Mazen Farajeen, the spokesperson for the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM).  

Each electoral list in Amman was required to pay a JD2,000 deposit and sign a pledge guaranteeing compliance with regulations, which include the obligation to clear campaign material from public spaces after the vote. 

In cases where the municipality has had to remove posters, the cost has been deducted from the deposit, said Farajeen. The amount that GAM charges for removing advertisements depends on the number of posters and their sizes, he added. 

Meanwhile, campaign material continues to litter the streets of Zarqa, 22km east of Amman, and the municipality says it needs two weeks to clear up the city as candidates are not cooperating. 

“It is the responsibility of each list to remove the posters but because many candidates did not win the elections they are not cooperating,” said Zarqa Mayor Imad Momani.

Candidates have been informed that the cost of removals will be deducted from the lists’ deposits, Momani told The Jordan Times. 

In Irbid, 80km north of Amman, the municipality has cleared downtown, Prince Hassan Sports City and surrounding areas because the city is hosting the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup later this month, said Mayor Hussein Bani Hani. Candidates in Irbid have been given until Monday evening to remove banners and posters from other areas, after which municipal teams will step in. 

“We have informed the 12 representatives of Irbid’s lists and almost none of them have taken any action yet, but still there is time,” said Bani Hani.

 “If they don’t, we will deduct the cost from their deposits,” he added.