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Iraq
Panelists speak at the MERI forum in Erbil on October 26, 2021. Photo: Bilind T. Abdullah/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Low turnout in Iraq’s parliamentary election this month, called on the heels of a widespread protest movement demanding a political revolution, and allegations of fraud by some parties who have rejected the results, are a warning about the state of Iraq’s democracy that parties from across the country must heed, politicians said in a forum on Tuesday.
“We and the people feel that democracy in Iraq is in danger,” said Muzahim al-Khayat, a member of the Taqadum Coalition. “It’s the political parties’ responsibility to move forward to support democracy and enhance security in the country.”
He was speaking on a panel of political leaders at the Middle East Research Institute (MERI) forum in Erbil, focused on the challenges Iraq faces in forming the new government.
Several parties have alleged fraud and rejected the election results.
“I call for harmony during this very difficult time; otherwise we will slip into very difficult matters - perhaps a cold coup or chaos in the country that could lead to its destruction,” Khayat warned.
The election was held in response to Tishreen (October) 2019 protests complaining of corruption and ineptitude among the ruling class and political system. Turnout was a record-low 41 percent, reflecting voter disillusionment and mistrust in the country’s political system.
“I believe the main reason behind the early election that was held was that the political process in Iraq had reached a political blockage,” said Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) politician Khalid Shwani, noting that Iraqis had lost trust in the government and in the political process.
“We saw how the Iraqi citizen and Iraqi voter who went out to the streets was hopeless completely,” added member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Jaafar Imniki.
Iraqis commemorated the second anniversary of Tishreen protests on Monday, almost two weeks after their demand of an early vote was met. The October protests that shook the country are a “healthy” demonstration that all Iraqi and Kurdish forces need to be reminded of, according to Imniki.
The protests were concentrated in Shiite areas of central and southern Iraq, but Imniki said that every political party and group must listen to the protesters’ concerns, “because the situation that occurred in Baghdad and the south could prevail in the Kurdistan Region and in western Iraq.”
The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced official preliminary results last week. The Sadrist Movement, led by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, leads by a large margin, securing more than 70 seats and is expected to be the main force in forming the new government once the results are finalized. He has already claimed victory and designated a negotiation committee to begin discussions about the formation of the new government. On Sunday, he warned against foreign interference saying that Iraq will not accept meddling in its affairs, but will welcome political and economic cooperation.
Supporters of pro-Tehran militias within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic) are staging a sit-in near Baghdad’s Green Zone, demanding a recount or entire new election following the underperformance of their affiliated political parties. A spokesperson for Katiab Hezbollah Abu Ali al-Askari, whose Huquq Movement ran in the vote, called the election the “biggest fraud.”
A large number of parties that took part in the election have armed wings, noted Sadrist Ameer al-Kinani on the panel. Sadr has said all arms must be exclusively in the hands of the state, sending a message to the militias.
The KDP tied for third place with 33 seats, taking the position of the largest Kurdish party in the Iraqi parliament, according to the preliminary results. It has been engaging in intense talks with other Kurdish parties in order to present a united front in Baghdad, as well as to better serve Kurdistan Region interests.
“We in the Kurdistan Democratic Party are very interested in all political forces and are open [for talks] with all of them,” Imniki said, adding that KDP “wants a strong government in Baghdad that serves all the areas in Iraq including the Kurdistan Region.”
The Sadrists have the most seats, but no party is near an outright majority in the 329-seat parliament and formation of the next government will require deals with other parties. The government-formation process can take months after the ratification of the results by the supreme court.
The MERI forum continues Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday. Rudaw is media sponsor.
“We and the people feel that democracy in Iraq is in danger,” said Muzahim al-Khayat, a member of the Taqadum Coalition. “It’s the political parties’ responsibility to move forward to support democracy and enhance security in the country.”
He was speaking on a panel of political leaders at the Middle East Research Institute (MERI) forum in Erbil, focused on the challenges Iraq faces in forming the new government.
Several parties have alleged fraud and rejected the election results.
“I call for harmony during this very difficult time; otherwise we will slip into very difficult matters - perhaps a cold coup or chaos in the country that could lead to its destruction,” Khayat warned.
The election was held in response to Tishreen (October) 2019 protests complaining of corruption and ineptitude among the ruling class and political system. Turnout was a record-low 41 percent, reflecting voter disillusionment and mistrust in the country’s political system.
“I believe the main reason behind the early election that was held was that the political process in Iraq had reached a political blockage,” said Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) politician Khalid Shwani, noting that Iraqis had lost trust in the government and in the political process.
“We saw how the Iraqi citizen and Iraqi voter who went out to the streets was hopeless completely,” added member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Jaafar Imniki.
Iraqis commemorated the second anniversary of Tishreen protests on Monday, almost two weeks after their demand of an early vote was met. The October protests that shook the country are a “healthy” demonstration that all Iraqi and Kurdish forces need to be reminded of, according to Imniki.
The protests were concentrated in Shiite areas of central and southern Iraq, but Imniki said that every political party and group must listen to the protesters’ concerns, “because the situation that occurred in Baghdad and the south could prevail in the Kurdistan Region and in western Iraq.”
The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced official preliminary results last week. The Sadrist Movement, led by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, leads by a large margin, securing more than 70 seats and is expected to be the main force in forming the new government once the results are finalized. He has already claimed victory and designated a negotiation committee to begin discussions about the formation of the new government. On Sunday, he warned against foreign interference saying that Iraq will not accept meddling in its affairs, but will welcome political and economic cooperation.
Supporters of pro-Tehran militias within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic) are staging a sit-in near Baghdad’s Green Zone, demanding a recount or entire new election following the underperformance of their affiliated political parties. A spokesperson for Katiab Hezbollah Abu Ali al-Askari, whose Huquq Movement ran in the vote, called the election the “biggest fraud.”
A large number of parties that took part in the election have armed wings, noted Sadrist Ameer al-Kinani on the panel. Sadr has said all arms must be exclusively in the hands of the state, sending a message to the militias.
The KDP tied for third place with 33 seats, taking the position of the largest Kurdish party in the Iraqi parliament, according to the preliminary results. It has been engaging in intense talks with other Kurdish parties in order to present a united front in Baghdad, as well as to better serve Kurdistan Region interests.
“We in the Kurdistan Democratic Party are very interested in all political forces and are open [for talks] with all of them,” Imniki said, adding that KDP “wants a strong government in Baghdad that serves all the areas in Iraq including the Kurdistan Region.”
The Sadrists have the most seats, but no party is near an outright majority in the 329-seat parliament and formation of the next government will require deals with other parties. The government-formation process can take months after the ratification of the results by the supreme court.
The MERI forum continues Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday. Rudaw is media sponsor.
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