January 31, 2005
Iraqi Elections
For the first time in many years, the people of Iraq have been able to vote and elect a government. This government’s first job was to draft a permanent constitution to govern the Iraqi people. Unfortunately there was violence regarding the elections, and a Sunni boycott as well. There were over 100 armed outbreaks in voting areas, and at least 44 people were killed. Despite these acts, it is estimated over 8.4 million votes were cast, with the United Iraqi Alliance, a mainly Shiite group, getting a majority of the votes at 48%. The Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan came in with 26%, and 10 other parties managed to gain a seat. The purpose of this election is to create a 275 member assembly, or parliament, who will be writing a more permanent constitution which would supersede the Transitional Law, created during the 2003 Iraq War. This election is seen by many as a step forward for the Middle East, and a victory for democracy. However, some people do not believe this, as nearly all Arab Sunnis boycotted the election. (Sunnis follow Sunni Islam, the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious body in the world.) Because of this, the 8.4 million votes only represented 58% of the Iraqi population. This is a significant event because it was a step forward for Iraqi independence. The population of Iraq was able to vote for the men who would write the document that will govern them for many years to come. It was also a major step forward for democracy, as Iraq is one of the nations in the Middle East who have a democratically elected government. This shows how democracy can, and will spread, as even a previously war-strewn and divided country like Iraq is using it as an electoral system.
Iraqi Elections
For the first time in many years, the people of Iraq have been able to vote and elect a government. This government’s first job was to draft a permanent constitution to govern the Iraqi people. Unfortunately there was violence regarding the elections, and a Sunni boycott as well. There were over 100 armed outbreaks in voting areas, and at least 44 people were killed. Despite these acts, it is estimated over 8.4 million votes were cast, with the United Iraqi Alliance, a mainly Shiite group, getting a majority of the votes at 48%. The Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan came in with 26%, and 10 other parties managed to gain a seat. The purpose of this election is to create a 275 member assembly, or parliament, who will be writing a more permanent constitution which would supersede the Transitional Law, created during the 2003 Iraq War. This election is seen by many as a step forward for the Middle East, and a victory for democracy. However, some people do not believe this, as nearly all Arab Sunnis boycotted the election. (Sunnis follow Sunni Islam, the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious body in the world.) Because of this, the 8.4 million votes only represented 58% of the Iraqi population. This is a significant event because it was a step forward for Iraqi independence. The population of Iraq was able to vote for the men who would write the document that will govern them for many years to come. It was also a major step forward for democracy, as Iraq is one of the nations in the Middle East who have a democratically elected government. This shows how democracy can, and will spread, as even a previously war-strewn and divided country like Iraq is using it as an electoral system.