WP-Iraqi Rules for Candidacy Spur Some U.S. Concern

[maddezmom]

To run for a seat in the Iraqi National Assembly in the elections scheduled for January, candidates must meet conditions set by the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq that are far more severe than any requirements for election to the U.S. Congress or most other elected bodies in this country.

For example, candidates must have "at least a secondary school diploma or equivalent," a "good reputation" and not been convicted of "a crime involving moral turpitude," according to the regulations of the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI). In addition, candidates cannot have been a member of Saddam Hussein's secret police, nor "contributed to or participated in the persecution of citizens," nor have made money "in an illegitimate manner at the expense of the homeland and public finance."


The regulations are based on sections of the Transition Administrative Law (TAL), drafted under the direction of then-Iraqi Coalition Provisional Authority administrator, L. Paul Bremer III. They have raised concerns among U.N. and U.S. officials that Iraq's interim government may try to eliminate candidates through pressure on the electoral commission, whose members were selected by the United Nations but approved by the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council.

In an attempt to prevent former officials of Hussein's Baath Party from running, no candidate will be certified who had been in the party "with the rank of Division member or higher," a level that one former senior CIA official said was "not high and would cover many schoolteachers and college professors." In addition, a candidate who was a former party member will have to sign a document renouncing the party, disavowing all past links and swearing that he or she has no current "dealings or connection" with Baathist organizations.

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29081-2004Nov5.html

[oneighty]

1. USofA

Oughta consider them there rules for our very own elected critters?

180

[daleo]

2. This should exclude both Chalabi and Allawi

Chalabi - nor have made money "in an illegitimate manner at the expense of the homeland and public finance."

Allawi - a "good reputation", candidates cannot have been a member of Saddam Hussein's secret police, nor "contributed to or participated in the persecution of citizens,"

At a minimum.