Uncertainty confuses the course of the local elections and indications of their postponement

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[size=52]Uncertainty confuses the course of the local elections and indications of their postponement[/size]

[size=45]Uncertainty dominates the scene of the provincial council elections, which are supposed to be held next month, amid major repercussions on the political arena, which puts them in the “category of doubt.”[/size]
[size=45]The political arena in Iraq is witnessing very important developments, perhaps the most important of which is the Federal Court’s decision last week, which was to terminate Muhammad al-Halbousi’s membership in the House of Representatives, amid speculation that his party (Taqadum) would withdraw from the race for local council elections, and the previous call by the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr. His supporters boycotted the vote.[/size]
[size=45]“The reasons for postponement are not convincing.”[/size]
[size=45]Many of the forces and parties participating in the current political process are pushing towards holding the elections on the specified date, and see a very high stake in resolving this issue before the end of the current year, and throwing all objections “over the wall.”[/size]
[size=45]Member of the House of Representatives, Kazem Al-Touki, confirms that the provincial council elections will be held on time, and while he considered the political objections to the elections “unjustified,” he directed a question to the opposition forces.[/size]
[size=45]Al-Touki said, in an interview with (Al-Mada), “The provincial council elections will take place on their scheduled date, so there is no reason to postpone them, other than voting on amending the law of the High Electoral Commission in the House of Representatives session, today, Wednesday.”[/size]
[size=45]He adds, “The occurrence of problems on the Iraqi political scene in the future may affect the holding of local elections,” asking: “What is the goal of the political parties that are trying to postpone the elections?”[/size]
[size=45]The representative points out that “objection to holding local elections on time is unjustified,” indicating that “if postponement is in the interest of the elections and improving the image of the provincial councils, there is nothing wrong with it, but no convincing issue has been raised so far.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Touki confirms, “The Independent High Electoral Commission is carrying out its logistical procedures, and is working to complete the election file in terms of providing all requirements, and aims to hold it on its scheduled date.”[/size]
[size=45]“A danger that haunts everyone”[/size]
[size=45]The current government, which was formed after the withdrawal of the Sadrist movement from the House of Representatives, presented a program that carries many goals within it, most notably the completion of the provincial council elections file, which may put it in an “embarrassing position,” especially since the local elections did not find support from many political parties. Influential.[/size]
[size=45]In turn, the director of the Baghdad Center for Studies, Manaf al-Musawi, considered holding the provincial council elections at the scheduled time “political suicide” that the current government might undertake. While he warned against the objections turning into a new stage, he pointed to the impact of the current political repercussions on the election file.[/size]
[size=45]Al-Moussawi said, in an interview with (Al-Mada), “The repercussions have been present on the Iraqi political scene, since the formation of the state administration coalition and the establishment of the government, given that the largest bloc represented by the coordination framework is not unified, and is a gathering of political forces that differ in visions and strategies.”[/size]
[size=45]He adds: “As there is no complete agreement on a group of issues, whether internal or external, such as terminating Muhammad al-Halbousi’s membership in the House of Representatives, where there are two groups, at a time when the Prime Minister visits al-Halbousi, and in a clear indication that he still acknowledges, to this moment, With Al-Halbousi heading the House of Representatives, and he is trying to alleviate the intensity of the tension caused by the Federal Court’s decision, there are some parties who are increasing the political discourse and trying to deepen the problem.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Moussawi explains, “These are indicators that indicate the lack of consensus or coordination, especially with the approach of what are called “local elections,” which is one of the major problems considering the presence of a large opposition party represented by the Sadrist movement, especially after Muqtada al-Sadr announced the final boycott of these elections. There is popular support for the leader of the movement, in addition to the political conflict that exists between the blocs, even within the coordination framework.”[/size]
[size=45]The director of the Baghdad Center for Studies explains, “These are indicators that perhaps indicate an unstable situation,” considering holding local elections under these circumstances “an act of political suicide that the government may undertake, and it may have major consequences and problems with the insistence on holding them amid the presence of strong opposition.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Moussawi notes, “These major objections may turn into a legal and constitutional stage represented by the process of heading towards sit-ins and demonstrations, and even preventing the holding of elections.”[/size]
[size=45]He concludes his speech by saying: “The current developments on the political scene are indicators that the coming days will be difficult for the government and the political forces supporting it.”[/size]
[size=45]The leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, dealt a major blow to the local elections, when he obligated his followers, about 10 days ago, not to participate in the elections, and said, “Your participation with the corrupt saddens me greatly... and your boycott of the elections is something that makes me happy, and reduces the legitimacy of the elections internationally and internally.”[/size]
[size=45]The provincial councils were abolished in 2020, when the Iraqi Parliament voted to end their work in response to the demands of the protest movement that began in October 2019, before the political blocs approved their return through local elections, in accordance with the political agreement that formed the government of Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, in 2022.[/size]
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