Early Parliamentary Elections In Iraq

Early Parliamentary Elections In Iraq

Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazimi had brought the vote several months forward after mass protests against the government.

Baghdad – According to the Iraqi military leadership, more than 250,000 security forces are deployed to prevent incidents. Cells of the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) repeatedly carry out attacks in Iraq.

A total of around 25 million people are called upon to elect the 329 members of parliament. A quarter of all seats are reserved for women. The first results should be available on Monday. Observers expect a low turnout. In the vote in May 2018, it had fallen to a record low of 44.5 percent.

Political and economic crisis

Oil-rich Iraq is in a political and economic crisis. The country is heavily dependent on oil and has suffered from low oil prices during the coronavirus pandemic. Mass protests against the political leadership had already broken out in 2019.

The demonstrations were directed against rampant corruption and poor infrastructure, among other things. Many Iraqis do not want to vote because they do not expect a change in the balance of power.

Iraq is also still suffering from the consequences of the war against IS. The terrorist militia overran large areas in the north and west of the country in 2014. The government declared victory over IS around four years ago. Jihadist cells are still active.

Early Parliamentary Elections In Iraq