Country: Iraq
Official name: Republic of Iraq
Election type: Parliamentary
Poll date: March 07, 2010
Registered voters: About 18 million
Size of Council of Representatives: 325 members
Electoral system: Open-list; a voter can vote for a party as well as for one candidate of one’s choice from the party list. The open list system holds members of Parliament accountable to their constituents. The use of this system in provincial polls in January 2009 was hailed as a milestone in solidifying a transparent, accountable democracy in Iraq. Earlier, the country used to practice closed list system, which gave voters only a choice of parties, which in turn determined who occupy the seats they win.
Key political alliances:
Iraqi National Alliance includes major Shi’ite parties such as Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, Sadrist Current, National Reform Trend, and Salvation Councils.
State of Law Coalition includes Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s Islamic Da’wah Party Anbar Salvation National Front, Independent Arab Movement, United Independent Iraqi Bloc, The Independent Iraqi Kafaat Gathering, The Gathering—Al-Tajamo, and an independent moderate Sunni Abdul-Qadir al-Obeidi (Defence Minister).
Iraqi National Movement (Iraqiya) a wide cross-sectarian alliance includes former prime minister Ayad Allawi’s Iraqi National Accord, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue led by barred key Sunni lawmaker Saleh al-Mutlaq, Mosul-based Arab nationalist al Hadba party, Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi’s Renewal List, and barred candidate Dhafer al-Aani’s National Future Gathering.
Kurdistan Alliance includes the Kurdish Democratic Party led by the region`s president, Masoud Barzani, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan headed by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Gorran—Movement for Change and Islamic Union of Kurdistan.
Unity of Iraq Coalition comprises over 40 political entities and was found by Shi’ite Interior Minister Jawad Bolani, with Sheikh Abu Reesha of the Awakening Councils and Ahmed Ghafoor al Samara’i of Sunni Endowment.
Accordance Front a Sunni-dominated bloc consists of Iraqi Islamic Party, Iraqi People’s Gathering, Turkmen Justice Party, and three independent Sunni candidates.
Compiled by: Kamna Arora
