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Iraq Prepares for Upcoming Provincial Elections

Fifteen million Iraqis are expected to turn out to vote in upcoming provincial elections. While the distribution of power between the Shiite and Sunni will not change, there is the possibility that elections may redistribute power among Shiite and Sunni organizations.

by Marina Ottaway

published by

The Takeaway

on January 28, 2009

Source: The Takeaway

Fifteen million Iraqis are expected to turn out to vote in the January 31^st provincial elections. The Takeaway talks to Andrew North, Baghdad Correspondent for the BBC, and Carnegie's Marina Ottaway, to draw a road map of the upcoming elections.

Ottaway cautions that the election will not change anything drastically in a political system where power is concentrated with the central government. While the distribution of power between the Shiite and Sunni will not change, there is the possibility that elections may redistribute power among Shiite and Sunni organizations: There is an evolving breakdown in the Shiite coalition, and many of the Sunni parties in power may not fair well, offering the best prospect for change before the national elections at the end of the year.

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.