Watch the Iraq Elections Today

[tekisui]

More voters than ever are being brought into the process. This should increase the credibility of the Iraqi government. What matters is whether it is perceived as fair. Both in count and the resulting political battle for power.

It will inevitably be messy and complicated. We can only hope that it will not be violent. The government that is elected in this election will be the government overseeing out withdrawal. If things turn bad, we could be put in a very tough position.

[tekisui]

1. A look at the major coalitions in Iraq's election

Source: AP

Iraqi National Alliance: A broad religious Shiite coalition led by the Iranian-backed Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, also known as SIIC, and backed by followers of radical anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and the Fadhila party...(more)

State of Law Coalition: Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Dawa Party is the backbone of a moderate coalition that includes smaller, independent groups of Shiites and Sunnis. The coalition did well during last year's provincial vote. But al-Maliki's government is under pressure after being blamed for security lapses that allowed suicide truck bombers to strike in central Baghdad....(more)

Iraqiya: Led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a Shiite, and prominent Sunni politician Saleh al-Mutlaq. The coalition, billed as secular, is backed by Shiites and Sunnis as well as former members of Saddam's regime. Allawi and al-Mutlaq, who was banned from the vote as part of a Baathist purge, are fierce critics of al-Maliki....(more)

Iraq Unity Alliance: Led by Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani, a Shiite who enjoys popularity among the police force he oversees, and Ahmed Abu Risha, leader of the Anbar province Awakening Council — a Sunni tribal militia that joined the U.S.-led fight against insurgents in 2006...(more)

Iraqi Accordance: The Iraqi Accordance, a moderate coalition that is the main Sunni bloc in parliament, is the successor to the Iraqi Accordance Front. It is dominated by the Iraqi Islamic Party — the largest Sunni political party in Iraq....(more)

Kurdish Alliance: Made up of four Kurdish parties, the bloc is dominated by two powerful political groups — the KDP and PUK. The ethnic group that was once brutalized by Saddam's regime is today one of the more powerful in parliament because of the number of seats it holds and its unified voting bloc. The Kurdish parties have clashed with the central government over legislation regulating Iraq's oil industry...(more)


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hHWyTTKCCGYln192Y5HvhdN1x_IwD9E9BN404?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter