Optimism high as preparations for national elections continue

Expectations of a high turnout in tomorrow’s national elections remain high, as preparations for the contest continue countrywide. The Independent Electoral Commission in Iraq (IECI) said on Tuesday that it was “completely prepared” to hold elections and that security throughout the country would be guaranteed for all voters. “It will be an historic event,” said IECI spokesperson Farid Ayar. “For the first time in Iraq’s history, the population will choose a four-year government on its own.” A total of 228 political entities, including 21 coalitions, will be competing for 275 elected seats in the national assembly. The elected government, which will serve a four-year term, will in turn choose a president and two deputies from among its members. The president and his deputies will then choose a prime minister and cabinet from members of the assembly. Mainstream Sunni parties, which had boycotted previous elections and thus lost influence in the interim government, are expected to turn out in higher numbers this time. they have done a U turn on their stance to gain as many seats as possible, following discussions with the UN and the Iraqi government: “We expect a turnout never seen in this country,” explained Ayar. Tariq al-Hashimi, president of the Iraqi Islamic Party, a Sunni political group, said that the election would serve to demonstrate solidarity among Sunni Muslims: “We boycotted the 30 January elections, but this time we will fully participate,” he said. “We will try to get the maximum number of seats in the new parliament,” al-Hashimi added. According to Ayar, more than 70 percent of Iraq’s 14 million eligible voters are expected to cast ballots in the election, initial results of which are expected to be available by 19 December. The 30 January interim elections saw a turnout of 58 percent, with this figure rising to 63 percent for a constitutional referendum held in October, according to data from the IECI. Main parties contesting the election The six main parties contesting Thursday’s elections are: the United Iraqi Alliance, led by Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim; the Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, led by Salih al-Mutlaq; the Iraqi Accord Front, led by Adnan al-Dulaymi, which includes three predominantly Sunni parties; the National Iraqi List, led by Iyad Allawi; the National Congress Coalition, led by Ahmad al-Chalabi; and the Kurdistan Alliance, which includes President Jalal Talabani’s PUK and Kurdistan Regional President Mas’ud Barzani’s KDP, the two leading Kurdish parties. Along with these major groupings, 15 smaller alliances will also compete in the races, as well as six individual candidates. “With the help of the voters and of international observers preventing unfair counting, this election has every possibility of resulting in development and progress,” said political analyst Adnan al-Baker. Ayar welcomed the participation of a UN special commission, mandated with supervising the IECI, and election observers from the European Parliament. “We’re proud to have experienced professionals from all over the world help us in this unique democratic election,” he said. UN Special Representative Ashraf Qazi said in a statement on Monday that “the United Nations will be privileged to assist the valiant Iraqi people in every step of their journey.” Insecurity prevails Despite stated optimism, however, providing security for polling stations, voters and candidates will remain a challenge, especially with Sunni candidates being called “traitors” by insurgent groups. On Tuesday, Mizhar Dulaimi, leader of the Iraqi Free Progressive Party, was killed while campaigning in western Iraq. Hamid al-Khaffaf, a spokesman for Shi’ite religious authority Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, said on Tuesday that religious leaders were not officially supporting any of the parties, in contrast to previous elections. “Mixing religion and politics should be avoided,” he said. Al-Qaeda in Iraq and other militant groups, meanwhile, have warned people not to vote, calling the elections a “devilish plot” on an internet website. Due to the perceived security threat, therefore, Sunni parties have been struggling to guarantee a high turnout. “We will work hard to make this election a symbol of victory for the Sunnis of Iraq,” Adnan al-Dulaymi, head of the Sunni Iraqi Accord Front, said on Monday. He went on, however, to concede: “We are in a very delicate security situation.” As a precaution, the interior ministry introduced a countrywide curfew between 10 pm and 6 am, from 13-17 December. What’s more, Baghdad airport has been closed for both local and international flights until 17 December, while a travel prohibition on provincial highways is being enforced. “Besides these measures, we’ve sent additional forces to Ramadi and other cities of the Anbar governorate to help control hot-spots and guarantee that locals safely reach the polling stations,” said Salah Abbas, a senior ministry official. Voting already started Voting for expatriates, prisoners and hospital patients began earlier in the week. On Monday, prisoners in jails and patients in hospitals nationwide cast their ballots as part of an initiative that aims to guarantee the participation of all nationals in the elections. According to Ayar, more than 1,500 patients in the Yarmouk hospital, the main emergency hospital in the capital, Baghdad, had already voted. “Our employees were passing from room to room, patient to patient, to give them a chance to share in the democratic process,” he said. Samir Hussein, lying in a hospital bed after casting his ballot, said: “I have just had surgery, but I was still able to vote for a better Iraq.” On Tuesday, expatriate Iraqis in 15 countries also began casting their votes.