Strolling through the usually bustling streets of Baghdad, a sense of uncertainty hangs in the air. Here we are, in the heart of Iraq's first provincial elections in a decade, yet the atmosphere is eerily silent. It's a ghost town. The local political landscape, once brimming with passion and purpose, has given way to a stark emptiness. With an influential political faction rallying for a boycott and reports of violent incidents and polling irregularities, it feels like we're part of a suspenseful movie plot rather than a real-life democratic process.
The elections are expected to act as a barometer for the parliamentary ballot scheduled for 2025. We've got all eyes on provincial council members' selection, who will have the crucial task of appointing governors. But here's the plot twist – the story is not playing out the way we imagined. After Saturday's initial voting resulted in a commendable turnout of about 67%, Monday's turnout is a coin toss.
Powerful Shiite cleric and political leader, the enigmatic Muqtada al-Sadr, plays a pivotal role in this drama. Despite his official withdrawal from politics in 2022, his influence lingers strongly. His call for a boycott, citing the perpetuation of a corrupt political class, seems to reverberate in every nook and corner of Baghdad. Even the city's top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani didn't encourage participation, a departure from his usual stance.
Our journey through the labyrinth of Iraq's political turbulence takes us to Sadr City, a Baghdad suburb and Sadr stronghold. Where we would expect to see queues of eager voters, we find apathy. Sheikh Qabila Wahab al-Sahl, a resident of Sadr City, echoed the sentiment of many citizens, 'What have we gained from past elections besides murder, theft, and wars?' A sentiment that cuts deep into the heart of the democratic process.
Despite this philosophical battleground, some brave souls like Haider Al-Asadi choose to defy the boycott. These brave adventurers are the silver lining amidst the dark clouds, still holding onto the belief that elections could bring anticipated change.
But the suspense doesn't end here. Reports of a stun grenade hurled at a voting center in Najaf, a stronghold of Sadr, adds to the undercurrent of unrest. Prior to the election day, Sadr's supporters stirred the pot by tearing down candidate posters and even vandalizing political campaign offices. A march to boycott the elections in the southern city of Najaf, a central spot for Sadr's support, saw thousands taking part.
Even in Sunni-majority areas where Sadr doesn't hold sway, voter turnout remains low, reflecting a widespread disillusionment in the political process. The sentiment resonates amongst the youth too, who joined massive protests just two years ago, demanding a dismantling of the corrupt system.
The story gets more intriguing with the recent election law passed in March. A law seen as detrimental to smaller parties and independent candidates' chances, it appears to further stir the murky political waters.
In the final plot twist, murmurs of alleged violations of electoral rules have started making the rounds. Accusations such as electoral propaganda near polling stations and the leaking of live images of ballot papers are creating waves. An investigation from Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission is on the cards.
As the curtain falls on a suspense-packed election day, it feels like the end of a thrilling episode. But with so much at stake in the ongoing saga of Iraq's shifting political landscape, one thing is clear – this is just the beginning.
