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Firyad Rawanduzi, a
National Assembly member for the Kurdistan Coalition
List, spoke to RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI) on 7
November in Al-Sulaymaniyah.
Rawanduzi: In fact, the political map [of
Iraq] has not changed much, apart from some minor
changes in the United Iraqi Alliance from which
[supreme Shi'ite cleric Ali] al-Sistani's stream
left, or some of the politicians who were loyal to
al-Sistani's stream and who were led by [Shi'ite
parliamentarian] Ali al-Dabbagh. Moreover, [Iraqi
Deputy Prime Minister] Ahmad al-Chalabi has left
[the United Iraqi Alliance]. But the Shi’ite segment
has remained as it was.
The same is true for the segment of Kurdistan where
the Kurdistan Coalition List has not gone through
big changes, except for the pullout of the Kurdistan
Islamic Union that will run in the next elections
alone. Regarding the list of [Iyad] Allawi, it has
witnessed some changes and has been joined by many
politicians and parties. Among them is, for
instance, the Iraqis list, led by [National Assembly
Speaker] Hajim al-Hasani and [Iraqi Vice President]
Sheikh Ghazi Ajil al-Yawir, in addition to the Iraqi
Communist Party, the Arab Socialist Movement, the
[Democratic Patriotic] Party of Nasir al-Chadirchi,
and others. That is why I do not expect big changes
to happen, with the exception of the Sunni [Arab]
segment that has entered [the electoral process].
Their presence will be strong and they will do their
best to win as many [parliament] seats as possible
so that they can have an influence in the future
[parliament, to be called the] Council of
Representatives.
RFI: Who are the groups
that have joined the Kurdistan Coalition List?
Rawanduzi: The most important parties there
are the two leading parties of Iraqi Kurdistan --
the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan
Democratic Party, in addition to the [Kurdistan]
Communist Party, the Kurdistan Toilers Party, and
the [Kurdistan] Social Democratic Party, as well as
some Chaldean representatives. This time, also the
[Kurdistan] Islamic Group, led by Ali Bapir, has
joined the Kurdistan Coalition List. The [Kurdistan
Coalition] List has been left by the Kurdistan
Islamic Union. Regarding [the news on Arab Socialist
Movement leader] Abdullah al-Nasrawi's joining the
Kurdistan Coalition List, the news is
unsubstantiated because the Arab Socialist Movement
has now been included in the Iraqi List led by [Iyad]
Allawi.
RFI: What election results
do you expect?
Rawanduzi: It would be difficult to predict
the election results now. It seems likely, however,
that the Shi'ite coalition, or the United Iraqi
Alliance, will get the first position. There will be
strong competition now between this list, [Iyad]
Allawi’s list, and also the Sunni [Arab] coalition.
I think that the presence of the Sunni [Arab]
coalition in the next Council of Representatives
will create a new map in the Council of
Representatives, even though this map may not -- in
my opinion -- bring about many changes on the main
political issues, especially in the issues defined
in the constitution that was approved by the Iraqi
people [in the 15 October referendum].
www.rferl.org
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