Iraq Press Roundup

The Iraqi newspaper Addastour said Friday that as the date for the provincial elections draws near, new alliances and new political skirmishes emerge as parties scramble for power.

The elections and the political alliances

There is a growing market of political deals among the various political parties in Iraq, with more changes expected as the country prepares for parliamentary elections toward the end of 2009.

Moving in coordination with the principles of democracy, these fluctuations are natural and expected, but also point to the growing self-interest among emerging powers.

Different signs are developing in the political scene in the wake of the disorganization left by the U.S. occupation, government corruption and the failure on the part of Baghdad to provide basic security and social services, the newspaper said.

For this reason, and from the lessons learned under five years of occupation, Iraqi voters need to choose carefully the representatives who advocate the interests of Iraq and the interests of the people. But if Iraqis look closely at the list of candidates, they will see nothing but a list of selfish officers consumed by their own struggle for power.

Kul al-Iraq, an independent Iraqi newspaper, said Friday that campaigning for the provincial elections before a certain date is illegal.

The provincial elections are close. Who you are voting for?

Campaigning for a certain political party is not an easy task, the newspaper said. In order to get enough votes for office, party leaders need to convince the public of their achievements.

The Iraqi people are no longer fooled by empty promises and lies, and, if a comparison could be made between the platforms of five years ago and today, the same politicians would be stumping hard on the campaign trail.

The candidates instead should pursue a policy in line with public demands. The people want representatives who condemn bloodshed, shun sectarianism and corruption, and campaign on an agenda of security and stability.

People have largely ignored calls for support of the political process. The political parties have lost more and more potential voters because they no longer believe in the politics. The people still remember the false promises from 2005, when Iraqi leaders proved they cared less about the people and instead accused their opposition of aligning with terrorist interests.

Sot al-Iraq news service said Friday the people of Iraq are obliged to participate in the upcoming provincial elections so Iraq can have the right people in office to move the country forward.

Please, don't vote for these people

The Iraqi people are backing political parties that have advocated a sharp move against terrorism and bloodshed in their country. However, party leaders who spend most of their time outside the country, claiming they only have "good intentions," deserve little attention from the voters.

Meanwhile, Iraqi voters are refusing to back any political party tied to the former dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein and oppose any leader who is working behind the scenes to shore up political power.

Candidates, if they are to win in the upcoming elections, must put projects that are of concern to the people at the top of their platform agenda. Orphans and widows should be the priority, the newspaper said, with corruption, employment and education rounding up the list of concerns.