Iraq holds first nationwide election since Daesh defeat
Iraqis headed to the polls Saturday for the first parliamentary election since declaring victory over the Daesh terror group, in hope of shoring up a fragile peace and rebuilding.
Voters across the war-scarred country cast their ballots under tight security, as the terrorists still pose a major security threat despite a sharp fall in violence, AFP wrote.
Roughly 24.5 million voters face a fragmented political landscape five months after Daesh was ousted.
At a polling station in the Baghdad district of Karrada, 74-year-old Sami Wadi appealed for change “to save the country”.
In the former Daesh bastion, second city Mosul – still partly in ruins from the months-long fight to oust the terror group – residents hoped for an uptick in their fortunes as they struggle to put their lives back together.
“I am voting for security and the economy to stabilize and for a better future,” said labourer Ali Fahmi, 26.
Prime Minister Haider al-abadi – who took office as Daesh rampaged across Iraq in 2014 – is angling for a new term, claiming credit for defeating the terrorists and seeing off a Kurdish push for independence.
“Iraq is strong and unified after defeating terror,” Abadi said after voting. “The elections will determine Iraq’s future.”
Whoever emerges as premier will face the mammoth task of rebuilding a country left shattered by the battle against Daesh – with donors already pledging $30 billion.
More than two million people remain internally displaced and Daesh – which has threatened the polls – is still able to launch deadly attacks.
Overall, just under 7,000 candidates are standing and Iraq’s complex system means no single bloc is likely to get anything near a majority in the 329-seat parliament.
Abadi – a consensus figure – is facing two leading challengers to his Victory Alliance.
Ex-premier Nuri al-maliki is widely reviled for stirring sectarianism and losing territory to Daesh, but draws support from hardliners.
“I wish for all to go to the ballot boxes to make their choice,” Maliki said after casting his ballot.
Hadi al-ameri – a contender who led paramilitary units that fought Daesh alongside Baghdad’s troops – called for “change” as he seeks to turn battlefield wins into political gains.
Votes in Sunni heartlands once dominated by Daesh – including Iraq’s devastated second city Mosul – are up in the air as traditional alliances have been shredded by the fallout of jihadist rule. Political forces in the Kurdish community – often seen as kingmakers – are also in disarray after a September vote for independence spectacularly backfired.