(Thumbnail image: Laredo Sun)
Elections in Iraq are set for March 7th, but one prominent Sunni Arab party, the National Dialogue Front Party, is threatening to boycott the elections after its leader was banned from running. For many analysts, the boycott risks the security and legitimacy of the upcoming elections.
We’re looking at perspectives from Informed Content, Fox News, Arab News, NBC and Al Jazeera English.
In 2005 Sunnis boycotted the Iraqi elections, leading to a bloody conflict.
FOX News reports that some are worried about a return to violence if the election appears to be corrupt.
“With widespread dissatisfaction over current security and services, the worry is the Iraqis could turn back to militias and insurgent groups to protect and provide for them if voters perceive the election and the new government are not legitimate.”
On the blog Informed Comment, Juan Cole, argues the Sunni boycott won’t lead to another 2005 national conflict…that’s because the elections are being held province by province.
“…the largely Sunni provinces…will return a lot of Sunni members of parliament even with a boycott…”
A writer for Arab News says the blacklist and the threat of an illegitimate election pose a negative psychological effect as well.
“…any communities whose candidates are struck off the electoral list will very understandably lose faith in the political process and the chances of genuine dialogue to find a way forward for all Iraqis, regardless of their background.”
On Meet the Press, General David Petraeus reveals his optimism about the election.
“We hope that this will move through, that the elections will be as the provincial elections were in January 2009, deemed free and fair by the United Nations, which is very much supportive of this effort, needless to say. And that indeed, the process of selecting the next prime minister the next government and the other leadership will be a smooth one.”
Al Jazeera English reports one cross-party coalition, part of the same group as The National Dialogue Front, will take part in the election. A spokeswoman says
"The [group] believes that the best reaction [against the candidate ban] is wide participation in the coming election and for our list to achieve a great win and to make forward-looking change.”
So, do you think the election will end in a fight…or are things looking up in Iraq?
Writer: Amanda Heisey
Producer: Newsy Staff
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