Just 41 per cent of eligible voters participated in Iraq's recent elections. AFP
Just 41 per cent of eligible voters participated in Iraq's recent elections. AFP
Just 41 per cent of eligible voters participated in Iraq's recent elections. AFP
Just 41 per cent of eligible voters participated in Iraq's recent elections. AFP

Opinion

Editorial

What kind of state would Iraq be if Iraqis stop voting?

  • English
  • Arabic
Insight and opinion from The National’s editorial leadership

October 12, 2021

It is little surprise that after years of social and economic decline, Iraqis have resorted to mass protests. They have been going on for years, and have at points been met with lethal force. Their calls for change have been largely ignored by Iraq’s divided elites. But the protest movement celebrated a rare victory when one of its key demands was met in the form of early parliamentary elections, which were held on Sunday.

Holding an election is one thing. Achieving a meaningful result is another. Voters faced a hard choice on Sunday – one that will likely prolong the country's political stalemate. More than 3,200 candidates were in the running for 329 seats. Few inspired much interest or presented distinct manifestos. Many represented the status quo that Iraqis have been protesting against.

This did not stop fanfare from the international community, who mustered one of the biggest election-monitoring operations in history. Iraq's UN Special Representative, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, had said months previously that the vote had “the potential to be different” from previous ones. According to her, five times as many UN personnel were engaged in supporting the process as did in 2018. The UN led anti-misinformation and social media campaigns to advocate against a boycott. Polling was reviewed by an independent party. And last week, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, the UK and US issued a statement saying: “This early election is an opportunity for Iraqi voters to democratically determine their future.”

Iraqi election officials conduct a manual count of votes from a ballot box picked at random as part of the verification process for the electronic count, at a polling station in the central city of Karbala. AFP
Iraqi election officials conduct a manual count of votes from a ballot box picked at random as part of the verification process for the electronic count, at a polling station in the central city of Karbala. AFP
Iraqi election officials in Karbala. AFP
Iraqi election officials in Karbala. AFP
Iraqi election officials conduct a manual count of votes at a polling station in the capital Baghdad. AFP
Iraqi election officials conduct a manual count of votes at a polling station in the capital Baghdad. AFP
Iraqi election officials check data at a polling station in Baghdad. AFP
Iraqi election officials check data at a polling station in Baghdad. AFP
Iraqi officials print out the electronic count of votes at a polling station in Karbala. AFP
Iraqi officials print out the electronic count of votes at a polling station in Karbala. AFP
Iraqi election officials conduct the electronic count of votes at a polling station in the northern city of Mosul. AFP
Iraqi election officials conduct the electronic count of votes at a polling station in the northern city of Mosul. AFP
Iraqi election officials count votes at a polling station in Baghdad. AFP
Iraqi election officials count votes at a polling station in Baghdad. AFP
An Iraqi election official holds a printout of the electronic count of votes at a polling station in the north-eastern city of Sulaymaniyah in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. AFP
An Iraqi election official holds a printout of the electronic count of votes at a polling station in the north-eastern city of Sulaymaniyah in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. AFP
Iraqi officials print out the electronic count of votes at a polling station in the north-eastern city of Sulaymaniyah. AFP
Iraqi officials print out the electronic count of votes at a polling station in the north-eastern city of Sulaymaniyah. AFP
Iraqi election committee staff members count votes at the end of the parliamentary election day at a polling station in Baghdad's Karada district. EPA
Iraqi election committee staff members count votes at the end of the parliamentary election day at a polling station in Baghdad's Karada district. EPA
Iraqi election committee staff members count votes to elect 329 new members of the Council of Representatives. EPA
Iraqi election committee staff members count votes to elect 329 new members of the Council of Representatives. EPA
Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission is expected to announce the results of Sunday's election within two days. EPA
Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission is expected to announce the results of Sunday's election within two days. EPA
Iraqi election committee staff members count votes at the end of Sunday's parliamentary election day at a polling station in Baghdad's Karada district. EPA
Iraqi election committee staff members count votes at the end of Sunday's parliamentary election day at a polling station in Baghdad's Karada district. EPA
A woman voter casts her vote at a polling station in Baghdad. AFP
A woman voter casts her vote at a polling station in Baghdad. AFP
Election workers count ballots at a polling station in Baghdad at the end of voting in parliamentary elections. AP
Election workers count ballots at a polling station in Baghdad at the end of voting in parliamentary elections. AP
An election worker counts ballots after polls close. Parliamentary elections were held months ahead of schedule in response to a popular uprising against corruption and mismanagement. AP
An election worker counts ballots after polls close. Parliamentary elections were held months ahead of schedule in response to a popular uprising against corruption and mismanagement. AP

Iraqis appear to have been more reticent in their enthusiasm. Estimates suggest that just 41 per cent of eligible voters turned out, the lowest number of any of the five elections that Iraq has held since 2003. Reasons for this could include fears over Covid-19 and the safety of polling stations, despite a huge national security operation to guard them.

However, disaffection is likely the biggest culprit. Since 2003, Iraqi governments have too often been "unity" ones, made up of a crippling number of different parties from all over the ideological spectrum, making it very difficult for administrations to pursue meaningful, distinct policies. Furthermore, ministerial and governmental posts were given out based largely on sectarian and ethnic divides and political calculations, rather than experience or knowledge. This malaise has done little to root out corruption and address the many issues facing Iraqis. Material challenges during the vote itself, such as reports of a new biometric system of voting ID cards glitching in Basra, will have inspired little faith that a flawed election carries the weight to address longstanding issues.

For Iraq, an election that allows for the peaceful transfer of power represents some success, particularly one in which the people had some procedural say. And Iraq has had five such elections now. But progress is not about the timing of elections, rather faith that they mean something. Unfortunately, this week's vote has been far from representative. In light of this, the international community must adjust its engagement in building Iraq's governing institutions to drive longer-term change and address factors behind Iraqis' lack of belief in their governing system. Hope might be easy in the run-up to a vote everyone wants to succeed. Realism in the aftermath of an underwhelming finale is harder, but crucial.

Scoreline

Germany 2

Werner 9', Sane 19'

Netherlands 2

Promes 85', Van Dijk 90'

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Name: Brendalle Belaza

From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines

Arrived in the UAE: 2007

Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus

Favourite photography style: Street photography

Favourite book: Harry Potter

Museum of the Future in numbers
  •  78 metres is the height of the museum
  •  30,000 square metres is its total area
  •  17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
  •  14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
  •  1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior 
  •  7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
  •  2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
  •  100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
  •  Dh145 is the price of a ticket
Explained
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

UAE - India ties

The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner after the US and China

Annual bilateral trade between India and the UAE has crossed US$ 60 billion

The UAE is the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India

Indians comprise the largest community with 3.3 million residents in the UAE

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first visited the UAE in August 2015

His visit on August 23-24 will be the third in four years

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited India in February 2016

Sheikh Mohamed was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2017

Modi will visit Bahrain on August 24-25

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.5-litre%20V12%20and%20three%20electric%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C015hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C500Nm%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Early%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh2%20million%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Neighbourhood Watch
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

More on Quran memorisation:
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1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

War and the virus
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On Women's Day
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Habtoor interview
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

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Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

UAE v United States, T20 International Series

Both matches at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free.

1st match: Friday, 2pm

2nd match: Saturday, 2pm

UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Rameez Shahzad, Amjad Gul, CP Rizwan, Mohammed Boota, Abdul Shakoor, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat

USA squad: Saurabh Netravalkar (captain), Jaskaran Malhotra, Elmore Hutchinson, Aaron Jones, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Jannisar Khan, Xavier Marshall, Monank Patel, Timil Patel, Roy Silva, Jessy Singh, Steven Taylor, Hayden Walsh

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Saturday
Liverpool v Manchester United - 3.30pm
Burnley v West Ham United - 6pm
Crystal Palace v Chelsea - 6pm
Manchester City v Stoke City - 6pm
Swansea City v Huddersfield Town - 6pm
Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth - 6pm
Watford v Arsenal - 8.30pm

Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Everton - 4.30pm
Southampton v Newcastle United - 7pm

Monday
Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion - 11pm

Updated: October 12, 2021, 3:00 AM`
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