Tue, May 6, 2014
by Khalid al-Taie
Iraqis await the results of this week's balloting process which will determine the 328 deputies for the country's new parliament.
"The number of citizens casting ballots reached 60%, which is a good percentage given the terrorist challenges facing the democratic process in Iraq," Meqdad al-Sharifi, head of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) electoral department, said at a press briefing April 30th.
A total of 9,039 candidates competed in this election, which coincided with the election of deputies to provincial councils in the Kurdish region.
"My family and I took part in the election, and I gave my vote to the candidate who will represent me in the new parliament; seeing a large turnout by voters at the election centre in our area made me very happy," said 44-year-old Abdul Kareem Mohammed of Baghdad's al-Bayyaa district.
"We faced no problems during the balloting because the balloting centre was properly secured, and the balloting process went on in a smooth, organised way," he said.
Fatima Hussein, 26, from Bagdad's al-Sidiya neighbourhood described the elections as "a historic day for Iraqis".
"I was happy to exercise this democratic right in order to chart a new, better future for our country and our generations," she added.
Raad al-Shammary, 40, of the capital's Zayouna district, said he voted for his preferred candidate "freely and in a secure environment".
"We hope the election results will help elect competent candidates who are capable of serving the country," he added.
To read the full piece from Mawtani.com, a service of Al-Shorfa, click here.