A Look at the Candidates (Iraq)

[stevedeshazer]

Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005
Who's on the Ballot?

Iraqis arriving at the polls on January 30 will be handed a ballot paper that would be confusing to even the most practiced of electorates. For one thing, the vast majority of the candidates won't be mentioned anywhere on it. Each voter has one vote, which must be given to one of the 111 political parties and coalitions, listed in random order decided by lottery, on a ballot the size of a broad-sheet newspaper. Each party or coalition is identified by name, a graphic symbol, a number, and the name of the candidate at the top of its list. Most of these groupings are recent creations, largely unknown among Iraqis (although in some instances their top candidate may enjoy some name-recognition). Even some of the more established parties who worked against Saddam Hussein in exile or underground, such as the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, the Dawa Party and the Communist Party, are running under the umbrella of recently formed coalitions, meaning they won't actually appear on the ballot under their own names. Some Iraqi press reports say as many as 53 parties may have actually withdrawn from the race, although their names may still appear on the list. Fear of assassination has prompted most of the parties and coalition to keep their candidate lists secret (beyond the top name), and security concerns have also severely restricted campaigning. Many voters may quite literally have little idea of whom they are electing when they cast their votes.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1020618,00.html

[tanyev]

1. Easy.

They're electing Allawi.

[Azathoth]

2. 111 political parties? I'd love to see that butterfly ballot

There's little question that Allawi is going to retain power, however.

[Disturbed]

3. Iraqis have been duped but...

I predict that the party backed by al Sistani will win this weird election. From having one candidate on the election ballots in the past: Saddam, there are 111 parties. Insanity? Purposefully trying to confuse voters will garner more venom towards the Bush Junta. Iraqis know what Colonialism smells like and they will continue to fight it no matter how the U.S. tries to paint over the turd that has been shat in Iraq.

[Azathoth]

5. I don't see it as a Dubya-backed attempt to confuse Iraqis

I see it as a symptom of a country that is badly fractured and on the brink of civil war.

You're right though, the most significant influence on this election is going to be al Sistani.

[Yupster]

6. I think we're very lucky to have al-sistani

He may be out only chance of getting out of there.

[pfitz59]

4. What if Saddam wins as a write-in candidate?

Wouldn't that flatten ole Chimpie!

[NYC]

7. Even if all Iraqis got to vote, this is a farce.

Even some of the more established parties... won't actually appear on the ballot under their own names. Some Iraqi press reports say as many as 53 parties may have actually withdrawn from the race, although their names may still appear on the list.