Iraq Development Program - Iraqi Elections Explained

The Iraqi elections explained

Democratic elections will take place in Iraq on 30 January 2005, campaigning having officially begun on 15 December 2004. But how will the democratic process work?

The people of Iraq will be voting for a Transitional National Assembly, which will have 275 members. The entire country will be treated as one single constituency. Political parties will submit lists of candidates; every third name must be female. All candidates will have to be over the age of 30.

Seats will be allocated by a system of exact proportional representation, meaning that each party or grouping will get the same proportion of seats in the Assembly as it gets for its list in the popular vote.

How much power will the Assembly have?

The Assembly will be able to choose Iraq's government and will have the power to make laws. Its first duty will be to elect a president and two deputies, who in turn will choose a prime minister, also from the Assembly. The prime minister will be the main figure of authority, exercising power over the armed forces, for example.

The other primary role of the Assembly is to draw up a draft constitution by 15 August 2005 and submit this to referendum by 15 October 2005.

When can a fully constitutional Iraqi government be expected?

When the constitution is approved, elections will be held by 15 December 2005 and a fully constitutional government will assume power by 31 December 2005. If the constitution is rejected there will be new Assembly elections by 15 December 2005, with a third year then allocated for the entire process.

There is also provision for a delay of six months if insufficient progress is made on the constitution by 1 August 2005.

How many candidates will there be in the elections?

Following approval , elections will be held by 15 December 2005

Around 100 parties have registered for the election. They will each produce a list of candidates, with those at the top of the list the people they feel have the best chance of being elected. There are approximately 8,000 candidates.

Will Iraqi people now living in other countries be entitled to vote?

They will. The International Office of Migration is setting up voting places in 14 countries with a substantial expatriate Iraqi population. Those wishing to vote have to prove Iraqi citizenship and prove that they were born before 31 December 1986. They will also have to register their vote in person on 28-30 January 2004. It is estimated that as many as one million people could register their vote in this way.

Is it possible to predict who is likely to win?

The Shias form around 65 per cent of the Iraqi population; therefore their parties are likely to be dominant. The main Shia groups have drawn up a list known as the United Iraqi Alliance which brings in some outside parties also.

What about the presence of foreign forces?

According to the UN Security Council Resolution 1546, the mandate of foreign forces in Iraq will cease when the new fully constitutional government takes office. The troops may then be asked to stay by the new authorities.

With around 65 per cent of the population Shia parties will dominate

There will also be a review in June 2005 over the presence of occupying forces. In any case, the troops could be asked to leave at any point.