The Electoral System in Iraq: Legal and Political Challenges and the Prospects for Comprehensive Reform
Keywords:
الكلمات المفتاحية: النظام الانتخابي، الابعاد القانونية، الابعاد السياسيةAbstract
This research provides a comprehensive study of the electoral system in Iraq from 2005 to the present, with a focus on the legal and political implications resulting from the plurality of electoral systems and their repeated amendments. The study demonstrates that the frequent changes to electoral laws have weakened fair representation and reduced opportunities for independent political entities, thereby reinforcing identity-based alignments and sectarian power-sharing. These changes have also negatively impacted the effectiveness of the Iraqi parliament in terms of legislation and government oversight, as the fragmentation of parliamentary blocs and the absence of a clear majority have led to weakened accountability and political deadlock. The research concludes that these challenges pose significant obstacles to the establishment of a stable democratic state and emphasizes the necessity of comprehensive electoral system reforms to enhance political justice and ensure the stability of the democratic process in Iraq.
References
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