Opinion | Editorials
Deferral of Kirkuk decision allows progress
New electoral law paves way for poll to take place, providing fresh mandate for leader
- Gulf News
- Published: 00:00 November 11, 2009
- Image Credit: AP
- Incumbent Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki is the favourite to win, and he would welcome a new independent mandate so as to be able to move forward on many issues that Iraq has to deal with
It was a very important success that the Iraqi parliament approved the country's new electoral law on Sunday, which cleared the way for new elections to be held in January next year. Incumbent Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki is the favourite to win, and he would welcome a new independent mandate so as to be able to move forward on many issues that Iraq has to deal with.
Parliament's vote on the electoral law put an end to years of wrangling since most of the country was ready to agree to a new electoral system months ago, but a total breakdown had occurred over how to handle the vote in oil-rich Kirkuk. The Kurds want the city to be incorporated into the regions that they dominate and the Arabs want Kirkuk to stay as part of the non-Kurdish regions. The heart of the electoral dispute is that Arabs, Kurds and Turkmens have been moving back into the city, with all sides alleging that this is designed solely to win votes, and many of these people are not genuine residents.
The result of the January elections in Kirkuk will be vital in determining which way Kirkuk goes long term. If pro-Kurdish members of parliament (MPs) are voted to power, Kirkuk will move towards the Kurdish regions. If the city elects Arab MPs, the opposite will happen. This problem was delaying the whole country's future, so the Iraqi MPs agreed to compromise in order to get the elections under way.
The compromise the new law allows is that the result in Kirkuk will be investigated by an electoral panel, which will be allowed to judge if any votes are invalid, and the panel will be allowed to disqualify votes cast by people who are not legal and proper residents. The success of the new law is that the rest of Iraq can move on, while the dispute over Kirkuk is shelved for now.
More from Editorials
More from Opinions
Opinion Editor's choice
-
‘I do, I do' ... but for how long?
By Tariq A. Al Maeena, Special to Gulf News
Rate of divorce could be reduced if prospective couples undergo a marriage reality course to know what they are getting into
-
Syria: Intervention by process of elimination
By Mishaal Al Gergawi, Special to Gulf News
This is a chance for stakeholders to commit to removing it from its metaphorical resistance axis and reorienting it with its neighbourhood
-
Encouraging 'green thinking'
By Habiba Al Marashi, Special to Gulf News
Those who practise recycling must share what they know and convey positive results of their efforts
Your turn
