In Iraq vote, political blocs lurk behind independents

When Iraqis go to the polls on Sunday, they will vote for individual candidates rather than parties for the first time under a new electoral law meant to appease a youthled protest movement.

On campaign posters, many of the over 3,200 hopefuls seeking office declare themselves to be free of affiliations with the powerful blocs in parliament, but not everyone is convinced.

For many, it’s simply an “electoral manoeuvre”, argued political scientist Ihsan Al Shammari, saying they don’t want to be associated with the entrenched forces widely blamed for inept governance, graft and shady backroom deal-making.

The new law theoretically favours local candidates as the number of electoral districts has been increased to 83. Previously, Iraq’s electorate was divided according to the 18 governorates.

The favourite this time is the Sadrist movement, whose Saeroon bloc held 54 seats and was the largest in the outgoing parliament.

Amid patronage rules and frequent fraud, experts don’t rule out the co-opting of independents by dangling the bait of ministerial posts. Al Shammari agreed that in Iraqi politics “the traditional forces and parties have sufficient leeway to attract independents”.