February 13, 2005
Results in for Iraqi election
Two weeks after the Iraqi election, officials have released what they are calling "final unconfirmed" results. According to Reuters, an alliance of Shi'ite groups received 47.6% of the popular vote, the Kurdish alliance picked up 25.4% and the party led interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi got 13.6%. Voter turnout was about 58% despite the threats of violence.
Parties have the opportunity, now, have a few days to challenge the results. Assuming things don't change significantly, the Shi'ite alliance will get 132 seats in the new legislature with the Kurds earning 70 seats and Mr. Allawi's party will get 38 seats. These are back-of-the-envelope calculations but give a sense of how the legislature will look.
There will undoubtedly be some horse trading as parties and individuals jockey to claim the roles they want in the new government. The President, two Vice Presidents, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet will all be chosen in the coming days. The legislature will be drafting a new constitution and will face new elections by the end of the year.
The Shi'ite parties want a constitution based in Islamic law and it is not clear that there is much opposition to that from other parties. Those who are chosen to the positions of President and Prime Minister will have to find a way to institute Islamic Law with enough safeguards for basic human rights that it will not anger the West.
That is a tough balancing act.
Posted by maxthecat at February 13, 2005 08:47 AM
http://www.maxsmewsings.com/mt/archives/2005/02/results_in_for_iraqi_election.php