.A Calmer Iraq Takes Another Try at the Ballot
BAGHDAD — Four years ago, Iraq had its purple finger moment, when voters proudly displayed their ink-stained index fingers as proof that they had participated in the nation’s first free elections in decades.
On Saturday Iraqis were going to the polls again, to choose provincial representatives in what many here believe will be a fairer and more widely contested election. The results are expected to mirror more closely the relative numbers and strengths of Iraq’s many ethnic and sectarian groups.
Four years ago, balloting took place in nearly all-consuming violence. It was further tainted by a Sunni Arab boycott, which limited the number of voters and office seekers alike.
This time around, the ballot is crowded — 14,428 candidates are competing for 440 seats — and the vote comes during Iraq’s most peaceful period since the American invasion in 2003.
Instead of purple fingers, the indelible image for this year’s election may well be the tens of thousands of candidates’ posters glued to the nation’s blast walls. (In 2005, it was too dangerous for most candidates to reveal their faces.) The 12-foot-tall walls, built to contain damage by explosives, have now become the primary campaign forum for Iraq’s raw, young democracy.
In all, more than 14 million voters are eligible to take part in the elections for local councils in 14 of Iraq’s 18 provinces. The balloting for the provincial councils, which are roughly the equivalent of state legislatures, is expected to convey trends for December’s national elections for Parliament.
On the eve of the vote, Iraq was at once fascinated by, and weary of, its democratic experiment. Polls show that three-quarters of people plan to cast ballots, but vote-buying appears to be widespread, rivals regularly tear one another’s posters from walls, and women have received death threats for running. At least five candidates have been killed, and there have been many assassination attempts.
Among the many questions is whether the religious parties that now hold sway in Iraq will continue to dominate politics, despite widespread displeasure with what voters say are those parties’ ineptitude and corruption.
Significant realignments of power are expected in several provinces west and north of Baghdad, which have majority-Sunni populations, but where most Sunnis boycotted the 2005 vote.
In heavily Shiite southern Iraq, a majority of seats are expected to be divided between the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, which is the most influential religious Shiite party, and a coalition headed by Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki’s Dawa Party, which has taken a secular approach in campaigning.
The Sadrists, a third Shiite group, retain significant influence in southern Iraq and in Baghdad but are not competing as a political entity during the election.
Iraqi and American military officials fear that some of the expected power shifts could cause renewed sectarian and ethnic clashes, so a curfew began Friday evening. Airports and borders were closed, and thousands of troops were guarding polling stations.
While four years ago there was almost no public campaigning for fear of assassination, this time candidates have gone door to door, given speeches and — contrary to Iraq’s election law — doled out cash, cars, watches, food and blankets, among other items, to win votes.
NYT
On Saturday Iraqis were going to the polls again, to choose provincial representatives in what many here believe will be a fairer and more widely contested election. The results are expected to mirror more closely the relative numbers and strengths of Iraq’s many ethnic and sectarian groups.
Four years ago, balloting took place in nearly all-consuming violence. It was further tainted by a Sunni Arab boycott, which limited the number of voters and office seekers alike.
This time around, the ballot is crowded — 14,428 candidates are competing for 440 seats — and the vote comes during Iraq’s most peaceful period since the American invasion in 2003.
Instead of purple fingers, the indelible image for this year’s election may well be the tens of thousands of candidates’ posters glued to the nation’s blast walls. (In 2005, it was too dangerous for most candidates to reveal their faces.) The 12-foot-tall walls, built to contain damage by explosives, have now become the primary campaign forum for Iraq’s raw, young democracy.
In all, more than 14 million voters are eligible to take part in the elections for local councils in 14 of Iraq’s 18 provinces. The balloting for the provincial councils, which are roughly the equivalent of state legislatures, is expected to convey trends for December’s national elections for Parliament.
On the eve of the vote, Iraq was at once fascinated by, and weary of, its democratic experiment. Polls show that three-quarters of people plan to cast ballots, but vote-buying appears to be widespread, rivals regularly tear one another’s posters from walls, and women have received death threats for running. At least five candidates have been killed, and there have been many assassination attempts.
Among the many questions is whether the religious parties that now hold sway in Iraq will continue to dominate politics, despite widespread displeasure with what voters say are those parties’ ineptitude and corruption.
Significant realignments of power are expected in several provinces west and north of Baghdad, which have majority-Sunni populations, but where most Sunnis boycotted the 2005 vote.
In heavily Shiite southern Iraq, a majority of seats are expected to be divided between the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, which is the most influential religious Shiite party, and a coalition headed by Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki’s Dawa Party, which has taken a secular approach in campaigning.
The Sadrists, a third Shiite group, retain significant influence in southern Iraq and in Baghdad but are not competing as a political entity during the election.
Iraqi and American military officials fear that some of the expected power shifts could cause renewed sectarian and ethnic clashes, so a curfew began Friday evening. Airports and borders were closed, and thousands of troops were guarding polling stations.
While four years ago there was almost no public campaigning for fear of assassination, this time candidates have gone door to door, given speeches and — contrary to Iraq’s election law — doled out cash, cars, watches, food and blankets, among other items, to win votes.
NYT
posted by madtom at 12:41 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home