This wave of popular unrest has thrown up new obstacles to the creation of a new government in Baghdad, already delayed by allegations of fraud committed in the May 12 election. Some leaders believe will still be without its new government by next year.
Hoshiyar Zebari, a politburo member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) who spent most of his political life since 2003 in Baghdad, believes “the formation of the government will take three more months” as a result of the protests.
Iraq held parliamentary elections on May 12, but the results were soon disputed by Kurdish and Arab parties alleging voter fraud and rigging. A manual recount was ordered, but the election commission is yet to announce the final results.
Some initial talks have been held between Kurdish parties and the winning Shiite blocs.
“As the PUK and KDP, we have called on the Fatih and State of Law that the political parties, all together, have to draft the government’s programs, not the prime minister alone,” Saadi Pira, a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader, told Rudaw.
“If we are all engaged in the draft, then the prime minister can be replaced with someone else, if he does not follow it.”
The PUK and KDP won the most seats among the Kurdish parties in Baghdad, according to the initial count.
Iraq’s southern provinces have been rocked by widespread protests demanding an end to corruption, improvements to living standards, and basic services such as electricity, water, and jobs.
A number of civilians have been killed and many others wounded as the demonstrations have turned violent.
The protests began in Basra province – the resource-rich southern tip of Iraq that is home to the country’s only seaport. Although the province creates the bulk of national revenues with its vast oil reserves, the people say they see little benefit.
Leaders across the political spectrum have acknowledged the “just demands” of the protesters. Many, however, have accused “infiltrators” of hijacking the demonstrations and instigating violence.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has formed a crisis committee to respond to the protesters’ demands and has promised jobs and infrastructure projects.
Protesters in Baghdad on Friday were not appeased, however, branding the nation’s leaders “thieves” and carrying placards reading “No, no to political parties”.
