From the protest squares to Parliament

Independents in Iraq cling to the dream of "change"

• "till when?"

  Banner carried by Iraqi women participated in a protest against the situation.

  AFP

• An Iraqi holds a banner denouncing the "quotas" during a demonstration calling for change.

  AFP

• A massive demonstration in Al-Haboubi Square in Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar Governorate, to demand change.

  AFP

picture

From a “routine” life devoid of any political activity, the forty-year-old pharmacist Alaa Al-Rikabi, Secretary General of the “Extension” movement that emerged from the 2019 protests, along with eight other candidates from the movement, became a deputy for the first time, aspiring to establish an “opposition” in a political system that holds parties Traditional in all its joints.

The task is difficult: the early parliamentary elections on October 10 produced a fragmented parliament, dominated by those same forces.

From his home in Nasiriyah on the banks of the Euphrates in southern Iraq, al-Rikabi describes the transition from the protest squares he experienced in al-Haboubi in the city center two years ago, to an independent “opposition” that will not participate in the next government, as a “challenge.”

"We started talking to those who organized politically, and those who did not, and decided not to participate in the elections," he says.

We communicate with them to suggest that they play complementary roles, as they are a political opposition from the street and we are from Parliament,” although “our size is now ineffective” in the 329-seat parliament.

Extension was one of the movements emanating from the demonstrations that chose to participate in the elections, while the majority of other movements chose to boycott them.

Al-Rikabi seeks to have a say in a country where, since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime after the US invasion in 2003, it has been the practice of establishing consensus governments between major and influential powers.

Sharing quotas

The matter was not much different this time, as experts expect that the most prominent forces will share the shares.

The Sadrist movement, led by Muqtada al-Sadr, came to the fore, with more than 70 deputies, and the political forces representing the Popular Mobilization (an alliance of pro-Iranian factions) retreated, according to the preliminary results.

While the final results have not yet been released.

The movement is still there

Al-Rikabi explains that «our biggest problems in Iraq are the quota governments, and the distribution of positions and job grades among the parties.

To fight that, we must be outside the system, which has resulted in a deterioration in services, its features are clear in Nasiriyah, and rampant corruption in all parts of the oil-rich country, but a third of its population lies below the poverty line.”

"We will not participate in any quota government, so that we can be held accountable," he added.

The streets of Nasiriyah still bear witness to a protest movement that demanded the overthrow of the regime, and was subjected to a bloody repression.

Most of the participants in it were young people whom “Extension” says they represent, such as Hussein Ali, 28, who was paralyzed after being shot in the back during the suppression of the demonstrations.

The young man says from his modest home, where he spends most of his time alone, after he battled death two years ago, “I elected (Extension) because I have hope that it will restore the rights of the demonstrators.

Since I was injured, I have not received any compensation from the government.”

Since then, the momentum of the demonstrations has greatly diminished, especially in the wake of assassinations and kidnappings of activists.

Nevertheless, hundreds in Nasiriyah marked the second anniversary of the protests on October 25.

With an electoral campaign whose budget does not exceed four million dinars (about $2000), compared to millions spent by large parties, according to Al-Rikabi, “Extension” won five of the 19 seats allocated to Dhi Qar, with a total of 140,000 voters, according to preliminary results, compared to 90,000 votes. for party candidates.

Al-Rikabi believes that “this means that the movement still exists, and that we were able to break through in Parliament, by competing with parties that have huge funds, weapons and international support,” while his movement does not even have an office of its own.

European observers spoke of "intimidation by armed groups, and allegations of misuse of state resources and vote-buying" during the election campaigns.

Shake the rules of the parties

In the crowded city streets, Al-Rikabi points out from his car that he drives himself, out of his desire to “change the stereotype of the deputy” separated from his audience, to a mural painted with pictures of the victims of the demonstrations, and slogans expressing “the revolution that succeeded in shaking the bases of the masses of the parties.”

"Extension" needs a bloc of 25 to 30 deputies, to assume the oversight role it aspires to, "as constitutionally we need at least 25 signatures to be able to question any minister."

Therefore, "we are trying to reach understandings that will provide us with this number."

On the other hand, “we may be the egg in any vote on laws,” when the major parties are not able to reach an understanding.

To achieve this, "Extension" contacted other movements that won seats in parliament, such as the emerging Kurdish party "The New Generation", which has nine seats.

Dozens of other independents entered parliament, but experts fear that some of them will join the major parties, but others are ready to resist, such as the independent Muhammad Al-Anouz, who came to the fore in his constituency in Najaf.

Al-Rikabi told AFP: "Major parties contacted me to find out my position," but it is clear: "We ran to put an end to the quota system, we will not ally with political parties that led the country during the last period, because they are the ones who have brought the situation to a lack of services." and corruption.”

The man became famous on social media, when pictures spread of him hanging his campaign posters himself.

For Al-Rikabi, “Change is not easy,” but the results are evidence that “there is an awareness that is emerging on the street.”

The pharmacist, who has not been able to work in his pharmacy located in central Nasiriyah for about a year, adds, due to threats from parties, as he says: "We may not be the ones to complete the road, because our lives may end in a simple way, with a bullet."

But the arrival of the independents to Parliament is “the beginning of a step on the road towards reform, without throwing a single shot.”

• "Extension" continued with other movements that won seats in parliament, such as the emerging Kurdish party "The New Generation", which has 9 seats.

• With an electoral campaign whose budget does not exceed 4 million dinars (about $2000), compared to millions spent by large parties, according to Alaa Al-Rikabi, Secretary-General of "Extension", the movement won 5 of the 19 seats allocated to Dhi Qar, with a total number of 140,000 voters, according to Preliminary results, compared to 90 thousand votes for the candidates of the parties.

• Iraq's biggest problems are the quota governments, and the distribution of positions and job grades to the parties.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news