Iraqis vote in first election since ISIS defeat

The incumbent prime minister Haydar al-Abadi’s Victory party may win by a small margin in Iraq’s election Saturday if he can overcome two major rivals – the Saudi-backed alliance led by the popular Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr and the Iran-backed group headed by the Shiite militia leader Hadi al-Amiri. Abadi would have to reach out to Sunnis and Kurds to form a coalition government. Many of the 22.5 million eligible voters will skip polling since they have little expectation of change or the next government rebuilding their war-ruined country. Nearly 7,000 candidates are contesting 329 parliament seats, of which a quarter must go to women. While this is Iraq’s first election since ISIS defeat last year, sleeper cells continue to terrorize the population.

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2 thoughts on “Iraqis vote in first election since ISIS defeat

  • May 12, 2018 @ 20:28 at 20:28
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    Debka must have made an error in stating: “…the Saudi-backed alliance led by the popular Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr”. I don’t believe the Saudis support a Shiite cleric.

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    • May 12, 2018 @ 21:36 at 21:36
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      Why not? they already support a jewish heretic, and a mass murderer, or two..

      Reply

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