Iraq and the “October Electoral Entitlement” amid the internal and external bets

[size=52]Iraq and the “October Electoral Entitlement” amid the internal and external bets[/size]

Saleh paints the future picture of Iraq... and Al-Kazemi fulfills his most important pledges
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About a week before the most important electoral event that Iraq awaits, on October 10, the Iraqi President Dr. Barham Salih was keen to draw a picture that he wanted to be realistic, whether for the future of his country or the future of the region. Last week, Saleh had two speeches: the first from the podium of the United Nations, where he delivered Iraq's speech before the Organization's General Assembly at its 76th session. The second is an interview with CNN. In the two speeches, Saleh reiterated his views and convictions, as well as his fears and warnings. He also presented visions and approaches for how to build future relations between all the countries of the region, especially after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the start of the withdrawal from Iraq. Meanwhile, his friend and comrade Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi sought to fulfill his promises and pledges regarding the most important political entitlement that everyone agreed upon after the October uprising in 2019, which is the early elections.
[size=45]At the level of the early elections, it was one of the most important demands included in the demands of the so-called "Tishreen revolutionaries", provided that they are organized under a new law that adopts multiple districts and win the highest votes. This is what actually happened, with the change of the Electoral Commission, which was chosen from among the judges. Before all of that, the government of Adel Abdul-Mahdi was dismissed, and Al-Kazemi was brought as prime minister in a “transitional phase,” the most important of which was a pledge to hold early elections, as well as revealing the killers of demonstrators and limiting arms to the state. However, the political blocs that provided Al-Kazemi with their support during his assignment to form the government... Most of them retreated from their support under various justifications. But Al-Kazemi continued to work with the tools available to him thanks to the support of some political forces that believe in the continuation of the state’s path, even if they have differences with the government and its executive body.[/size]
[size=45]During the period of the year and a half that Mustafa Al-Kazemi spent as Prime Minister of Iraq, it can be said, according to the descriptions of political observers, that there is an “integration” of performance between him and the President of the Republic. While the two men seemed to exchange roles in foreign and domestic policies, the outcome of the situation confirmed this “integration” when the country headed to the elections a few days before the government turned into a “caretaker government,” after the parliament itself was dissolved on the seventh of this month. .[/size]
[size=45]In the third month of this year, Iraq received the Pope of the Vatican through an event that seemed exceptional, witnessed by the whole world. The visit succeeded, and the protocol arrangements were distinguished even in the manner of reception and activities between the presidents of the republic and the ministers. And last June, Iraq hosted the tripartite summit between Iraq, Egypt and Jordan, which seemed to be an important step in returning Iraq to its Arab environment, after a rupture that lasted for more than a decade and a half. At the end of last August, Iraq hosted the most important regional event during the past years, when it hosted the "Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership", in which Iraq's neighboring countries as well as some regional countries participated, in addition to France, represented by its President Emmanuel Macron. As a result, the Iraqi performance appeared different compared to the previous period, and Iraq seemed to be qualified to play a distinguished role in regional and international relations during the next stage, which is the most dangerous in the Middle East.[/size]
[size=45]President Saleh was keen, through his speech at the United Nations and in his interview with CNN, to identify the most important risks facing the region, and the solutions proposed by Baghdad. Internally, as Saleh tried to present visions and perceptions for the future of the region without thinking about whether he would return for a second term or not, Al-Kazemi completed all the requirements for holding the elections, and with them making agreements with brothers and friends, without thinking that his government’s default life as a transitional government is over.[/size]
[size=45]- visions and visions[/size]
[size=45]Barham Salih said from the United Nations platform that "Achieving peace in the region will not take place without a secure and stable Iraq with full sovereignty." He stressed that "Iraq's return to its pivotal role in the region requires regional and international support and an end to the rivalries and conflicts of others on our land."[/size]
[size=45]Then Saleh called for “the formation of an international coalition to fight corruption and recover looted funds, similar to the international coalition against terrorism,” adding that “terrorism can only be eliminated by ending corruption as a political economy of violence and terrorism… Corruption and terrorism are interlinked, interdependent and interdependent, and one perpetuates the other.”[/size]
[size=45]In the context of his vision of the nature of the challenges facing the region, the President of the Republic was interested in expressing the nature of what is facing the region, which is in dire need “to cooperate and work on plans to build infrastructure, expand and integrate our economies, combat climate change, and work to meet the requirements of our population for jobs, good education and better health care.” And you can't wait for others to solve this for us, we have to work on it ourselves. Iraq was an arena for regional and international conflict with the money and lives of the Iraqis, and this situation must end.”[/size]
[size=45]In his interview with CNN, Saleh drew a picture of those who stand up after the elections to lead Iraq, saying that “the population of Iraq is now 40 million, and in 2050 it will be about 80 million, and the same is true with all countries in the region that are witnessing an increase in population. We may not be able to create jobs for future generations if the current dynamic of conflicts in the region continues, and this also applies to Iran, Jordan, Egypt and the rest of the neighbors.”[/size]
[size=45]Boycott and polling percentages[/size]
[size=45]On the other hand, in the Iraqi elections, bets are made on two types of audience, according to the nature and position of each political bloc or party. There are forces and parties that are betting on high participation in the upcoming elections as the only way to change the political equation, which has stopped at an audience whose percentage during the past four parliamentary sessions is fixed and ranges between 20 and 25 percent. Meanwhile, forces and parties are betting on Taklam, the silent majority of the electorate, which exceeds 70 percent.[/size]
[size=45]Conversely, according to the Iraqi political map since the first parliamentary session in 2005, the current political blocs that dominate the political scene, and the parties that represent them, are continually mortgaging their existence with the continuation of low percentages of the vote, meaning that if the percentage remains within 20 to 25 percent, the chances of the blocs remaining will remain large. The current leaderships (Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish) are the same. Even assuming a change occurs, it is within the block of the same component, up or down.[/size]
[size=45]But if the voter turnout exceeds the limits of 30, 40, 50 or 60 percent, the situation will change in terms of the emergence of new forces that will change the political equation, or at least create a major rift in it to the detriment of the influential parties. Therefore, while the influential parties seek to ensure a mass boycott in order to preserve their existence, the forces supporting change work on broad mass participation as the only way to exclude the current parties and blocs.[/size]
[size=45]It is known that the early elections were approved based on the mass movement that took many names, including the “October Uprising” (October) 2019 or “October Demonstrations” or “October Revolution”, so the representatives of this movement became - which claimed the lives of about 600 people and more than 24 thousand Jareh - they are called the Charna. On the other hand, the parties in power that dominate the political decision in Iraq called the uprising “tails” and “sons of embassies,” accusing them of belonging to abroad, although the only slogan raised by the demonstrators in Baghdad and the central and southern provinces was: “We want a homeland.” Moreover, despite all the kidnappings, assassinations and pursuits that were practiced against the uprising, they were able to impose a new equation represented in the overthrow of the previous government (Adel Abdul-Mahdi's government) and the change of the electoral law from one district to multiple districts, as well as the Electoral Commission, in addition to forcing the authority to conduct Elections early.[/size]
[size=45]Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, who came in the wake of those protests, provided the appropriate ground for holding the elections and trying to facilitate the process of changing the political equation, which prompted the blocs and parties affected by his policies, to launch media campaigns against him and his government and advisory teams, trying to hold them responsible for 18 years of Accumulated failure in many areas and fields.[/size]
[size=45]Sistani supports change[/size]
[size=45]On the other hand, a few days ago, the supreme Shiite authority in Najaf announced that it would resume Friday sermons, starting from yesterday (Friday), after a hiatus of nearly two years as a result of the outbreak of the “Covid-19” epidemic. As many people rejoiced at the decision, it was received lukewarmly by a number of forces and parties that claim to be on the line of reference, but do not implement the instructions or instructions they offer. According to observers, the reason that made the reference to repeat the Friday sermon - two weeks before the elections - is its realization that the traditional parties and forces are working to sow despair in the hearts of citizens so that they do not go to the polling stations... because of the fear of these forces of losing more seats in the parliament, Hence its influence and privileges. But the surprise that came from Najaf, and from the authority of Sayyid Ali al-Sistani in particular, was the issuance of instructions from his office, since last Wednesday. According to the statement issued by the reference, it “encourages everyone to participate consciously and responsibly in the upcoming elections, although it is not without some shortcomings, but it remains the safest way to cross the country to a future that is hoped to be better than the past, and through it avoids the risk of falling into the abyss of chaos.” and political obstruction. The statement added that “the esteemed voters should take lessons and lessons from past experiences, and be aware of the value of their votes and their important role in shaping the future of the country, so they can take advantage of this important opportunity to bring about a real change in the administration of the state and remove corrupt and incompetent hands from its main joints, which is possible if the conscious stand together.” They participated in voting effectively and made a good choice. Otherwise, the failures of the previous parliaments and the governments emanating from them will be repeated, and there will be no regrets.”[/size]
[size=45]The Marjaiya also confirmed, as before the last elections, that it does not support any candidate or electoral list at all, and that it is all up to the voters' conviction and their opinions. She also drew attention to the importance of scrutinizing the progress of the candidates in their electoral districts so that only the honest righteous people who are keen on Iraq's sovereignty, security and prosperity are elected.[/size]
[size=45]- Erbil... and the surprise of normalization with Israel![/size]
[size=45]> While Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, was preparing to start receiving political delegations coming to it after holding the elections nominated to draw the features of the upcoming political map, the city witnessed the holding of a conference that called for normalization with Israel.[/size]
[size=45]The conference, which was announced as a “conference for normalization with Israel,” which was held in a city hotel, and included about 300 personalities, including the son of former Israeli President Shimon Peres, seemed surprising by all standards. While the Ministry of Interior in the Kurdistan Region announced that it was not aware of and agreed to hold the conference in Erbil, but the final statement of the conference, which called for public normalization and joining the “Ibrahim Accords” provoked angry reactions in Baghdad.[/size]
[size=45]The statement of the closing conference, which was read by Wissam Al-Hardan, head of the "Iraq Awakening", directed a request to Iraq in general to enter into relations with Israel and its people. While Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid welcomed the Iraqi gathering's call for normalization with his country, describing the event as "hopeful", the Iraqi government's response came in a strongly worded statement issued by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi's office, in which it strongly rejected such attempts.[/size]
[size=45]The statement stated that "the Iraqi government expresses its categorical rejection of the illegal meetings held by some tribal figures residing in the city of Erbil in the Kurdistan region, by raising the slogan of normalization with Israel." And he added, “These meetings do not represent the people and residents of the dear Iraqi cities, which these personalities are desperately trying to speak on behalf of their residents, and they represent the positions of those who participated in them only, in addition to being an attempt to confuse the general situation and revive the abhorrent sectarian tone, in light of the readiness of all the cities of Iraq to fight Fair, fair and early elections, in line with the aspirations of our people and to devote the national path that the government was keen to adopt and follow.”[/size]
[size=45]The statement also stated that “the proposal of the concept of normalization is constitutionally, legally and politically rejected in the Iraqi state, and that the government clearly expressed Iraq’s consistent historical position in support of the just Palestinian cause, and the defense of the rights of the Palestinian people, foremost of which is their right to an independent state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, and rejecting all forms of Settlement, aggression and occupation by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people.”[/size]
[size=45]For its part, the Iraqi presidency announced its rejection of the outcomes of the Erbil conference. A presidential statement said that "while the Presidency of the Republic affirms Iraq's firm position and support for the Palestinian cause and the implementation of the full legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, it renews Iraq's categorical rejection of the issue of normalization with Israel, and calls for respecting the will of the Iraqis and their independent national decision."[/size]
[size=45]The presidential statement added: "The Presidency of the Republic confirms that the last meeting held to promote this concept does not represent the people and residents of Iraqi cities, but rather the positions of those who participated in it, in addition to being an attempt to inflame the general situation and target civil peace."[/size]
[size=45]The Iraqi presidency called, therefore, to "stay away from promoting nationally and legally rejected concepts that affect the feelings of Iraqis, at a time when we must prepare for fair and transparent elections that support the national path in Iraq and restore a free and dignified life for all Iraqis."[/size]
[size=45]In any case, the Erbil conference greatly complicated the political scene, especially since the Kurdistan Democratic Party led by Massoud Barzani had concluded several agreements with Shiite leaders for alliances in the post-election period, which may have repercussions due to hosting Erbil - Barzani's stronghold - For this conference, despite its announcement, it refused to adopt its outcomes.[/size]
[size=45]This, and the matter did not stop at all Iraqi blocs, parties and leaders rejecting what happened in Erbil; The Iraqi judiciary issued arrest warrants against a number of participants in the conference - which bore the name "Peace and Recovery" - which prompted a large number of the personalities participating in it to retreat and apologize. The campaign to disavow the conference and its consequences included the former representative in the Iraqi parliament, Mithal Al-Alusi, who was the first Iraqi politician and MP to publicly visit Israel nearly a year after the fall of the former regime after the US invasion of Iraq. The Iraqi judiciary issued an arrest warrant for Al-Alusi, while he is currently residing in Germany to undergo surgery, according to what he announced. Although Al-Alusi reiterated his "belief in normalization and his call for establishing relations with Israel," he denied his connection in any way to the aforementioned conference.[/size]
[size=45]Baghdad: «Middle East»[/size]
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