provincial elections news stories on Newser

Maliki's Allies Win Big in Provincial Vote

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:51:49 CST

Allies of Iraq's prime minister finished first in races for ruling councils in Baghdad and eight other provinces, official results from last weekend's election show. Nouri al-Maliki's party won 38% of the vote in Baghdad, the election commission said. His party was followed by allies of anti-US cleric Muqtada al-Sadr...

Many US Troops Home in a Year: Obama

Laurel Jorgensen — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:33:00 CST

President Obama promised today to bring a "substantial" number of troops home from Iraq before next year's Super Bowl, MSNBC reports. In an interview with Matt Lauer, Obama said Iraq's smooth provincial elections this weekend ensured the homecoming. He disclosed no details, but said he plans to “roll out in...

Polls Open in Watershed Iraqi Election

Jason Farago — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:23:01 CST

The polls are already open for this weekend's provincial elections in Iraq, the nation's first since it became a fully sovereign nation after the fall of Saddam. The Sunni minority is participating, reports the Christian Science Monitor , and Iraqis can vote for more than 14,000 candidates vying for 440...

Iraq Passes Election Law, But Skirts Key Issues

Nick McMaster — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:29:28 CDT

The Iraqi parliament today passed a long-delayed law establishing provincial elections, a step the government hopes will protect recent security gains by opening the political process. The first elections are expected in January, the New York Times reports, but questions remain about how to ensure representation for Iraq’s religious minorities,...

Regional Voting in Doubt in Iraqi Impasse

Sam Biddle — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:24:01 CDT

Iraq’s parliament failed to pass a law on provincial elections before its summer recess, jeopardizing the possibility of elections later this year, the New York Times reports. A consensus was seen as necessary for political unity among Iraq’s fractious political blocs, with President Bush even contacting legislators to push for...

US to Stall Troop Cuts Over Iraqi Elections

Katherine Thompson — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:16:04 CST

US troop cuts in Iraq will stall after July to ensure security for local elections, a Washington official said yesterday. "You can actually increase your own risk if you pull out too many simultaneously," the official said. "This is not a stall tactic." But Baghdad officials nixed plans for the...