Category Archives: Iraq elections 2014

The elections are over and it’s the PUK who are smiling

By Mufid Abdulla: On 30th April 2014 elections for the Iraqi parliament and local councils took place and, once again, the results have partly transformed the political map of the south of Kurdistan. This time the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) increased its seats by six, while the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) lost five seats…

Race to the Finish

Evin Cheikosman

By Evin Cheikosman: Iraqi Kurdish politics have pretty much taken over Kurdish political news these past few weeks. Given so, it is critical to actually understand and be familiar with the goals of Iraqi Kurdish political parties and why there exists the friction between them. I mean, is it not a given that Kurds have…

Iraq’s sectarian, religious, and ethnically-based election tensions reach Canada

By Aram Azez: While Iraq is currently experiencing some difficult sectarian, religious and ethnic tensions, its political, tribal, and social groups are keen to approach the April 30th elections to cast their votes hoping to impact their country’s scrambling political and economic landscapes. However, the mistrust among Iraq’s most divided groups, vying for their supporters’…

Will the people vote for another Dictator or their first Savior? Will the winner take it all?

Evin Cheikosman

By Evin Cheikosman: General elections in Iraq start on April 30th, the first since the United States withdrew their troops from Iraq in 2011. A positive step but one that is crowded by the insecurities and doubts of civilians, the sectarian conflict raging throughout the country, and the debilitating state of the economy. According to sources,…

Election terror: suicide bomber murders 30 in Khaneqin

KT News: 30 people were killed and about 50 were injured at a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) election rally in Khanaqin today when a suicide bomber blew himself up among a crowd that had gathered to watch televised footage of PUK leader Jalal Talabani casting his vote in Germany, where he has been in…

Election Campaigns in Kurdistan, Iraq – The Lengths Politicians Go For Votes

Aras Ahmed

By Aras Ahmed Mhamad:  The election campaign for the Iraqi Parliamentary and Kurdistan region Provincial Elections started on April Fool’s Day, what an ideal date for the campaign! Campaigning is a pillar in the process of voting, which automatically creates clashes and feuds especially as these days people have easy access to various types of…

The Legitimacy of Elections in Iraq

Sarkawt Shamsulddin

By Sarkawt Shamsulddin: The mosaic of Iraqi society has shaped the election campaigns. The way each political party manages the campaign can tell us what potentiality each party has or where they look for votes. The ruling parties at national and local level abuse their public positions, money, and security forces to gain more votes….