HEADLINES:

Hundreds in Baghdad protest changes to electoral districting

PM:05:43:27/02/2023

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SULAIMANI — Security forces in Baghdad closed off Jumhuriya Bridge leading to the Green Zone on Monday (February 27) as hundreds gathered to protest changes to Iraq’s electoral districting.

A draft elections law was discussed in the Iraqi parliament last week that would fix each governorate in Iraq to one electoral district.

The move would be a return to the previous system of electoral districts in Iraq. The system was reformed following the Tishreen protests in 2019, leading to several electoral districts in each governorate.

Critics say a return to the old system would make it harder for independent candidates to win seats in parliament.

The Coordination Framework, the majority bloc in the Iraqi parliament, favors the single-district system, according to the Associated Press.

Parliament is expected to debate the issue but not hold a vote on the electoral districting on Monday, the AP said.

(NRT Digital Media)