ACE Electoral News

ACE Electoral News

Iraqi Commission bars nearly 500 candidates, The New York Times (2010)

The Independent High Electoral Commission made a decision to bar approximately 500 out of 6, 500 candidates running in the March election, after having received a list from the government commission that vets candidates for ties with Saddam Hussein's Baath Party. The candidates have three days to appeal to a federal court. Some analysts have voiced their fear that this decision could lead to more sectarian violence, undermining the agreement by almost all Iraqi factions to participate in the elections.

Iraq election row goes to court, BBC News (2010)

Iraq's President Talabani has requested the Supreme Court to settle the political dispute that has arisen following Justice and Accountability Commission's ban of about 500 candidates from contesting in elections. President Talabani stated that this decision may not be legal as it wasn't approved by the Parliament. The President is also questioning the timing of the ban.

Iraq court given time to review candidates, The New York Times (2010)

Iraqi leaders gave the appeals court time to review the ban on hundreds of candidates accused of having ties with the Baath Party. Prime Minister Al-Maliki indicated that he will accept the jurisdiction of the court which last week postponed the disqualification of the candidates until after the vote. The fate of some prominent candidates remains unresolved though, which could still worsen the situation. The campaign has been delayed in the meantime, and several protests have taken place.

Iraq: De-Baathification As A Political Tool, Carnegie Endowment (2010)

The article is on the use of the De-Baathification as a political tool by Iraq’s Justice and Accountability Commission which barred nine predominantly Sunni political parties and 458 individuals from participating in the country’s March parliamentary elections on grounds that they were affiliated with Saddam Hussein’s regime or apologetic of the former regime.

Fears of Iraq poll boycott after Sunni party pulls out, Guardian (2010)

Saleh al-Mutlaq, a leader of the National Dialogue Front (one of the main Sunni parties) calls for a Sunni boycott of the upcoming Iraqi elections. Al-Mutlaq was one of the individuals listed in the banned electoral list because of his alleged Baathist ties. Although there was no immediate response to his call by the other Sunni parties, there are fears that this move might lead to a "dangerous political vacuum after the elections."

Iraq: Suleimaniya witnesses clash as Election campaign starts in Kurdistan, The Kurdish Globe (2010)

The article of a local newspaper describes the clashes occurred in Suleimaniya as Election campaign starts, between the PUK and the Change party.

U.S.–Iran power struggle over Iraq, Aljazeera (2010)

The US Ambassador to Iraq warns that it could take months to form a new government in Baghdad after the Iraqi elections, which could means considerable political turmoil in Iraq against the looming specter of a renewed sectarian war in the country.

Iraqi election body invites NGOs to monitor Jordan-hosted poll, Jordan Times (2010)

The IHEC has urged the International Organisations and political groups to register to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Iraq to Rehire 20,000 Hussein-Era Army Officers, The New York Times (2010)

This article is on the announcement of the Iraqi government to rehire 20,000 former officers, that came consequent to the Prime Minister's campaign in the coming elections around denouncing the former Baath government.

Key Iraqi Sunni Politician Decides Not to Boycott March Election, VoA New (2010)

This article is on the announcement of Salih Al-Mutlaq; a key Sunni politician announced that he would not to boycott the elections.

Nouri al-Maliki most popular candidate as Iraq general election looms, The Guardian (2010)

This article is expecting that the current Prime Minister to top the poll in the general election on 7 March, with a threat to his possible second term as leader without post-election coalition help.

Iraq could return to chaos and violence if election is not fair, The Daily Telegraph (2010)

This article is on the statements of Ayad Allawi, a leading candidate for the Parliamentary election that will take place on 7 March 2010; who says that he would boycott the Parliament if he felt the election was fixed.

Iraq suicide bombers target city of Baquba, BBC (2010)

With fears that Iraq could slide back into sectarian violence; attacks in the central Iraqi city of Baquba have killed at least 31 people and injured many more, which come amid heightened sectarian tension ahead the election on 7 March.

Blast kills 5 as Iraqi troops, police vote early, Reuters (2010)

Five people in Baghdad were killed and 22 were wounded in an explosion near an empty polling station, while Iraqi troops, police, prisoners and the infirm have started to cast their early votes ahead of the upcoming election. 950, 000 people are eligible to vote early; most of them are members of the Iraqi security forces. The attack occurred despite the tight security measures being implemented.

Expatriates vote in Iraq election, Aljazeera (2010)

The Iraqis living abroad in 16 countries are voting for the Parliamentary election, starting two days before the election's day on 7 March. The number estimated by the UNHCR of the Iraqi refugees who fled the country is around 4.2 million since 2003.

Iraq parliamentary election hit by insurgent attacks, BBC (2010)

The second Parliamentary election in Iraq since the 2003 invasion has been hit by multiple attacks, with at least 35 people being killed. Candidates from 86 factions were vying for 325 parliamentary seats, with some 19 million Iraqis eligible to vote.

Turnout appears healthy in Iraq vote despite attacks, Reuters (2010)

More than 55 percent of Iraqis voted in parliamentary election despite attempts by the insurgents to disrupt the landmark vote with attacks that killed 38 people, officials said.

Iraq election turnout 62%, officials say, BBC News (2010)

Despite the violence during elections, in which 38 people were killed, the voter turnout in the elections was 62%. The final official results will not be declared until the end of March, but the preliminary results are expected within two or three days. Prime Minister Maliki's State of Law Coalition is expected to win the most seats, but none of the parties will probably be able to form a government alone.

Candidates Speculate on Results of Iraq Vote, The New York Times (2010)

Iraq's Candidates and coalitions began positioning themselves in an evolving political landscape. The current prime minister Al-Maliki and Ayad Allawi emerged from the election as the front-runners to be a prime minister.

Election Reaction From Around Iraq, The New York Times (2010)

As Iraq returns to normal life after a week of election curfews and holidays, the Iraqis around the country spoke about their choices, hopes and expectations, with updates on the results as boxes began to arrive from around the country to the Green Zone headquarters of Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC).