Iraq: A campaign to track the funds and expenses of candidates in the upcoming local elections

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[size=52]Iraq: A campaign to track the funds and expenses of candidates in the upcoming local elections[/size]

[size=45]The Iraqi Integrity Commission, which is responsible for prosecuting corruption files in Iraq, announced the launch of a campaign (Where did you get this from) targeting candidates for the local elections, scheduled to be held next December 18, and monitoring the inflation of their funds, calling on citizens to cooperate with it.[/size]
[size=45]The High Electoral Commission had set a maximum limit for spending in electoral campaigns, but Iraqi political parties doubted the ability of influential parties to adhere to those limits, and calls were issued to follow up on the sources of funds spent in electoral campaigns.[/size]
[size=45]The head of the authority, Haider Hanoun, announced, in a press conference held in Baghdad, today, Thursday, “the launch of a campaign (Where did you get this from) regarding the inflation of candidates’ funds in the upcoming local elections,” stressing that “we must bring honest men to the provincial councils.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, “The success of the (Anti-Corruption) and (Where Did You Get This) campaigns for provincial council candidates requires primarily the cooperation of citizens, as well as cooperation with regulatory bodies to expose the corrupt,” calling on all citizens to “read the Integrity and Illegal Gain Commission Law to know the way forward.” Fighting corruption.” He did not reveal the details of the campaign.[/size]
[size=45]Hanoun added: “Yesterday, we held an important meeting with the Independent High Electoral Commission to oblige party candidates to disclose and submit their financial liabilities, and that the process of combating corruption is complex and complex and requires everyone’s contribution and assistance.”[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that “the government is cooperating with the Integrity Commission on the issue of combating corruption, and that the Prime Minister is seriously seeking to cooperate with the Integrity Commission to recover the money, the wanted persons, and the accused,” adding that “the Integrity Commission is working to prove the cases, charges, and suspicions against the accused, and whoever claims to have no connection to corruption is against him.” To provide evidence to the Authority to conduct the procedures and submit them to the competent courts.”[/size]
[size=45]Candidates for the elections, especially those affiliated with the parties in power, spend huge sums of money in large campaigns to win votes, in the form of providing support and aid to citizens, covering streets, equipping areas with electricity transformers, etc.[/size]
[size=45]Note that the maximum spending per candidate, according to the instructions, is 250 Iraqi dinars ($0.19), multiplied by the number of voters in the electoral district for which he is nominated. The ceiling on electoral spending for the party and the political alliance is the same as the amount allocated to the candidate, i.e. 250 dinars multiplied by the number of voters in the electoral district and also multiplied by the number of candidates for the party or political alliance list in the electoral district.[/size]
[size=45]Therefore, in a city with a voter population of 500,000, the candidate will be allowed to spend 125 million dinars, or about 90,000 dollars. The commitment of the candidates to what was set by the Commission is being questioned, as some party parties and conferences that include banquets and gifts in more than one place at the same time far exceed this budget.[/size]
[size=45]Several political forces recently announced not to participate in the upcoming provincial council elections, for what they considered “in solidarity with the demands of the Iraqi people, considering the councils an extra link and a door to corruption, doubting the possibility of ensuring the integrity and transparency of competition between the forces.”[/size]
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