The
Kurdistan Regional Government is in need of urgent
reform. The Change list, which is considered the
main challenger to the Kurdistani List, is promising
an independent governmental and judicial system.
July
16, 2009
ERBIL-Hewlęr,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — Voters
in the Iraqi Kurdish Region are looking to elect a
strong and active opposition in the forthcoming
elections in the hope of limiting corruption,
pushing forward reform and paving the way for a more
transparent political and economic system say voters
and politicians.
Sitting in the famous Machiko coffee house in Erbil,
Zana Abdul Qadir a 27 year old English teacher, told
Niqash that he was not going to vote for the
region’s two main parties, which have dominated
regional politics since 1991.
"The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan [PUK] and the
Kurdistan Democratic Party [KDP] could have run this
country better,” he declared, breaking off to inhale
his cigarette. “They serve some special people and
neglect the others,” he added, referring to
widespread accusations of corruption and nepotism.
Abdul Qadir says he hopes that the establishment of
a more forceful political opposition will push these
ruling parties to serve the people more effectively.
The region will become a better place, in terms of
its economy and politics, if there is a real and
strong opposition he hopes.
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Nawshirwan Mustafa, a prominent former deputy leader
and co-founder of PUK plans to head a political
group of independents called "Change" in the
region's upcoming parliamentary elections. He left
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party (PUK) in December
2006, now owns a powerful media company, Wisha, the
company, which includes a television station,
newspaper and website, is now independent and highly
critical of local leaders.
The Change List, is campaigning largely on the
pledge of sweeping reforms. The list, which is
considered the main challenger to the Kurdistani
List, is promising an independent governmental and
judicial system. |
With
elections set for July 25, campaigning is well under
way and issues of reform, corruption and
transparency are increasingly dominating the agenda.
While the two main parties, competing on a joint
Kurdish List, are expected to be victorious and
maintain power, opposition politicians hope that the
next parliament will introduce greater
accountability into the system.
"The existence of a real opposition is necessary for
the political system, necessary for government and
necessary for people as well," said Hadi Ali,
secretary-general of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU).
According to Ali the Kurdistan Regional Government
is in need of urgent reform,www.ekurd.net
adding that Parliament is inefficient and that no
true opposition currently exists. Pointing to the
weaknesses of the present system Ali explained that
party interference within government institutions is
rife, security forces are controlled by political
parties rather than the state, and that corruption
is endemic in the face of poor public salaries and
services.
One list, the Change List, is campaigning largely on
the pledge of sweeping reforms. The list, which is
considered the main challenger to the Kurdistani
List, is promising an independent governmental and
judicial system.
While the Change List is looking to seize the reins
of power, other lists say they simply want to play a
greater role in political decision-making.
Dr. Hadi Mahmud, a member of Kurdistan Communist
Party and spokesperson for the Social Justice and
Freedom List which is comprised of seven leftist
parties, made clear that his list does not want to
topple KDP-PUK rule, but rather, ensure wider
participation and transparency, especially in the
economic field.
In the face of these accusations, the Kurdish list
defends itself vigorously. According to Sherwan
Hayderi, head of the KDP parliamentary bloc,www.ekurd.net
the
two main parties “have been struggling for Kurdish
freedom and rights for several decades… all the
achievements in Kurdistan have been achieved by the
KDP and PUK."
Nonetheless Hayderi says that the Kurdish List would
welcome a strong opposition bloc in parliament.
"Without a strong opposition in parliament it will
be impossible for democracy to progress in
Kurdistan."
With elections less than two weeks away, campaigning
it now at its fiercest. For the people of the
Kurdish Region, there is hope than out of this
debate a new and better region will emerge.
Copyright, respective
author or news agency,
niqash org
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