Legislative in Iraq: towards a strong abstention?

A voter in Baghdad, for the Iraqi legislative elections of Sunday, October 10, 2021. AFP - AHMAD AL-RUBAYE

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1 min

Some 25 million Iraqis were called upon to renew their 329 deputies this Sunday, October 10, as part of early legislative elections.

This vote took place two years after the massive protests of young people, demanding for the street change, the end of corruption, jobs, decent public services.

A movement largely repressed.

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With our special envoys in Baghdad,

Overall, there were no major incidents or violence, as one might fear in this unstable country.

Large security forces had been deployed: numerous police officers controlling the entrances to the polling stations, special forces deployed along the Tigris in Baghdad, even fighter planes, flying over the city to show that these elections were taking place in completely

.

On the other hand, there were a few technical incidents in the polling stations, with a new system electronically checking the identity of voters.

It didn't always work out well.

System intended to strengthen the legitimacy of these elections, which are also supervised by international observers, in this country which has experienced fraud in the past.

For the moment, we do not know the participation figures.

In the morning, there were very few people in the offices that we were able to visit, a little more in the afternoon according to the images broadcast by the Iraqi media.

We can expect a significant abstention, on the part of young people in particular, who

two years ago and who do not believe that these elections can bring any change in the country.

► Listen on RFI: For Arthur Quesnay, "these elections should renew the political order"

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