Legislative in Iraq: few illusions at the polls and strong abstention in sight

Shy participation, technical concerns: the Iraqis voted this Sunday in early legislative elections that raised little enthusiasm among voters, in a country rich in oil but facing endemic corruption and a plethora of armed factions.

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Electronic voting was accompanied by machine breakdowns - quickly repaired according to the authorities - while the fingerprints of many voters could not be recognized and the electoral cards did not always work, noted correspondents of the AFP. Polling stations closed at 6:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. GMT). In the process, Jalil Adnane, the head of the Electoral Commission indicated that the preliminary results would be known "

", that is to say before Monday 18:00 (15:00 GMT), and that the eagerly awaited turnout would be published in the evening. of this Sunday. In the afternoon, this rate exceeded 30%, according to him.

For the head of the observation mission of the European Union (EU), Viola von Cramon, this lack of enthusiasm to vote "

”.

The EU and the UN had sent dozens of observers to oversee the process.

In 2018, participation stood at 44.52%, according to official figures, inflated according to detractors.

"

Generalized apathy

"

Initially scheduled for 2022, the elections were brought forward to calm the protest at the end of 2019, an expression of immense popular dissatisfaction with sprawling corruption, failing public services and a failed economy in an oil-rich country. Suppressed in the blood - at least 600 dead and 30,000 injured - the movement ran out of steam after a few months. Dozens of activists have been the victims of kidnappings and assassinations, blamed on armed factions loyal to Iran, which play an essential role in Iraq.

In the deserted streets of Baghdad, police and soldiers were deployed this Sunday during the day, the country still being shaken by attacks by the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).

An attack on a polling station in a remote area in the north of the country, attributed to ISIS by the authorities, also killed a police officer, according to a security source.

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Prime Minister Moustafa al-Kazimi congratulated himself on Twitter for having "

". But protest activists largely boycotted the ballot. “

”said Iraqi researcher Sajad Jiyad, interviewed by AFP. “

” he adds, listing electricity shortages and poor public services.

The big traditional blocs should preserve their representation in a fragmented parliament, where the absence of a clear majority forces to negotiate alliances, according to experts.

Turbulent but influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose list is considered favorite, praised the "

" of the electoral process.

As almost all political formations have an armed faction, the fear of violence and fraud is on everyone's mind.

And 77 people were arrested for

electoral

"

", according to the authorities.

"

Opaque bargaining

"

Some 25 million voters were called to the polls to choose from more than 3,200 candidates. The election of the 329 deputies is done according to a new electoral law, which establishes a first past the post and increases the number of constituencies to encourage, in theory, independents and local candidates. In case of victory, the current of Moqtada al-Sadr, ex-militia leader with anti-American rhetoric, will still have to deal with the great pro-Iran rivals of Hachd al-Chaabi, who entered Parliament for the first time in 2018. , riding the victory against ISIS.

If the political scene remains polarized on the same sensitive issues - whether it is the presence of American troops or the influence of the big Iranian neighbor - the parties will begin long negotiations to agree on a new prime minister, a post which traditionally falls to a Shia Muslim.

“

”summarize researchers Bilal Wahab and Calvin Wilder in an analysis published by the Washington Institute.