![Iraqi PM Mustafa Al-Kadhimi (seated at the head of the table) has devised a cross-interest lobbying campaign to help secure victory in the upcoming elections [Getty Images]](/sites/default/files/2021-07/GettyImages-1232528509.jpg)
Iraq PM reels in activists, journalists as candidates for upcoming election
Iraq PM reels in activists, journalists as candidates for upcoming election
Sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that members of Kadhimi’s team were coordinating with political activists, journalists, and protest movement leaders to start a liberal, secular campaign to oppose parties backed by the country’s militias.
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Iraqi PM Mustafa Al-Kadhimi (seated at the head of the table) has devised a cross-interest campaign to help secure victory in the upcoming elections [Getty Images]
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’steamis trying to get activists to ,sources have told ’sArabic-language service.
The sourcesfrom the Prime Minister's officesaid thatthree members ofKadhimi'steamare to start aliberal, secularcampaignto opposeparties backed by the country's militias.
The meetings are being kept quiet to protect the potential candidates from targeting by militias,the sources said, as previously seen in Iraq.
Prominentprotest figuresalso told --thatKadhimi’sadvisors were trying to get activists to participatein the elections.
"Razzaqal-Haidari, leader of the Al-Fatihparliamentary bloc, said it was “expected”thatKadhimi’steam’s lobbyingwould work,but he questioned howcampaigns would be funded"
Early elections wereone of the demands pro-democracy movement protesters made when they began .More than 600 people have diedsince.
Kadhimi, who took office in May, was formerly Iraq's intelligence chief. Pro-Iran critics accused him ofworking to serve US interests.
Heannouncedlast July that the country's parliamentary elections would be moved up a year.
The elections were first scheduled for June of this year,then postponeduntil October.Kadhimisaidearlierthis year that he would not be running in the elections.
The premier’sopponents have questioned where funding for thecampaignsof activists, journalists and protest leaderswill come from.
Razzaqal-Haidari, leader of the Al-Fatihparliamentary bloc, said it was "expected"thatKadhimi’steam’s lobbyingwould work,but he questioned howcampaigns would be funded.He called on the Electoral Commission to "hold the leaders of these entities accountable for the sources of funding -especially since most of their(protest)leaders did not have anything before working withtheKadhimigovernment."
