Region | Iraq
Who is who in the Iraq election
Parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place across polling stations in Iraq on December 15, 2005. Here is a quick guide to the main players and parties contesting the Iraqi poll.
- Gulf News web report
- Published: 23:31 May 3, 2009
Parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place across polling stations in Iraq on December 15, 2005. Here is a quick guide to the main players and parties contesting the Iraqi poll.
The major political parties:
United Iraqi Alliance:
The UIA dominates the outgoing transitional assembly. It comprises of a group of Shiite religious parties. Both Prime Minister Ibrahim Al Jafaari's Dawa party and Abdel Aziz Hakim's Supreme Council for the Islamic revolution (SCIRI) belong to it. UIA won 48 per cent of the vote at the last January election.
Many expect it to win the election again, emerging with an estimated 40 per cent of the seats. The UIA is hampered by the fact that some Shiite parties have left the alliance. Also the high number of Sunni Arabs expected to vote in the election will negatively affect the UIA's position.
The majority of Sunni Arabs boycotted the January polls. UIA policies: Enforcement of the Iraqi constitution, establishment of regional governments, prosecution of Baathist criminals, provision of free education.
Kurdistan Alliance:
The alliance is led by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. It includes Iraq's two main Kurdish parties. The Kurdish bloc joined the Shiite alliance in a coalition government after successfully gaining 26 per cent of the vote in the January elections.
Kurds make up about 20 per cent of Iraq's population. They are expected to win up to 25 per cent of the vote. One of the main Kurdish aims is to protect the autonomy of the northern regions.
Iraqi National List:
Run by former interim Prime Minister Eyad Allawi, the Iraqi National List is known as the Allawi list. Last year Allawi ran for the position along and won 40 of the 275 member seats available (14 per cent).
Sunni liberal Adnan Pachachi, foreign minister in the days before Saddam's rule, is part of the party. The Iraqi National List party calls for a democratic and modern Iraq. They renounce sectarianism in politics. The group has a strong focus on improving relations with Arab and neighbouring countries.
Iraqi Accordance Front:
The Iraqi Accordance Front is an Islamist anti-occupation bloc. It includes the three main Arab Sunni parties that boycotted January's elections. The group wants an end to the presence of coalition forces and wants an Iraq free from power sharing that is based on sectarianism and ethnicity.
The major players
Conservative Shiite leader: Abdul Aziz Al Hakim:
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This politician and cleric, who is head of the Shiite Muslim coalition was staunch opponent of Saddam's regime and lived in exile in Iran for more than 20 years.
Former Interim Prime Minister: Eyad Allawi:
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The moderate Shiite US backed interim Prime Minister was a member of the Ba'ath party before fleeing Iraq in 1978 after disagreeing with Saddam. The staunch supporter of women's rights heads the Iraqi national list party - a coalition of Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish moderates.
President: Jalal Talabani:
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The Kurdish president has been a champion of Kurdish nationalism since the 1960s. He is heading the Kurdistan Allliance but has said he will not seek relection as president because he claims the new Iraqi constitution hass kurbed his powers.
Prime Minister: Ebrahim Al Jafaari:
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The hardline Shiite Prime Minister is head of the Dawa party which is part of the United Iraqi Alliance – the Shiite collation party tipped to win the election.
Deputy Prime Minister: Ahmad Chalabi:
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He is being called the 'dark horse' of the election. He is heading the National Party conference - which includes monarchists and the Iraqi National Congress and the ministers of education and justice. His aims are to address the failings of the current transitional government.
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