No Manipulation Is Going to Happen
Interview with Nazem Dabbaq, PUK representative in Tehran on the parliamentary and presidential elections in Iraqi Kurdistan.
What is your prediction of election results in the Iraqi Kurdistan region?
The only prediction I could make is a massive turnout which is a promising sign for the future of this region.
You did not answer my question. Who do you think is the winner of election?
I think the highest vote will go to the joint list of Masoud Barzani’s Kurdish Democratic Party and Jalal Talabani’s Democratic Union of Kurdistan.
How is the election going to affect security of the region?
The presidential and parliamentary elections in the Iraqi Kurdistan are democratic processes which will have substantial regional effects. One is the power it gives to people to determine the future of their country and themselves. On the other hand, these elections can solidify regional ties. And after all, election means considering the interests of all movements and parties.
What are the outcomes for the Iraqi nation?
The Iraqis support Kurds, the democratic process, stability and security in Kurdistan. They also believe in a central government. These are all encouraging signals.
Will the election in Kurdistan be of any help to the stabilization process of Iraq?
Definitely. This will be the most consequential event after foreign troops’ withdrawal.
What is the difference between the third parliamentary election in Kurdistan and the previous ones?
The difference is in the increased level of participation and competition. You can see that people’s turnout and their presence at the ballot boxes is due to the positive competition the election has fostered. All parties are doing their best to gain the highest vote and win.
Which group does Iran support in the parliamentary elections?
Iran is not supporting any Kurd group. In fact, Iran supports the entire Kurdistan region and its people. The Iraqis have control over their own life and can determine who wins the elections.
The Change List has accused the ruling parties of corruption. What do you think of these charges?
I believe no one can spoil the elections with such allegations. More than 400 representatives will monitor the elections. Those who lay these charges probably lack confidence and think they can not achieve the desired result.
Why wasn’t Prime Minister Mr. Maleki in Iraq during the elections?
Whether in Iraq or the United States, Maleki’s presence would not have a significant impact. And I don’t think he was going to imply anything. This election is a democratic, parliamentary process accomplished by the Iraqi Kurds.
The main challenger to ruling parties, the Goran List, has chosen blue as its campaign color. How do you see the color Iraqis have adopted, which seems to be an Iranian impact?
First of all, not all Iraqis have chosen the color. And second, it is actually a dark blue. As I said before the only significant difference is the variety of political groups and parties. The election will end with people’s decisive vote.
We can not announce the winner before the voting is over, but we can predict. During the campaigns and the way people of Kurdistan welcomed each group, it became clear that the joint list of Kurdistan Union will secure the absolute majority.
What is the meaning behind the color used as a symbol?
The color used by an opposition to Barzani-Talabani alliance has no specific meaning. Actually, you should ask the party about their choice. But it is another change which makes this election different from the previous ones. In other countries, each party and each political movement has selected a color as its symbol and it carries a special meaning according to its followers.
Some cynical analysts talk of vote-rigging. What do you think?
Only those unhappy with the democratic process of Kurdistan and Iraq give such untrue analyses. Media are reporting the election news every minute and so far there has been no news or rumors on manipulating the votes.
The only prediction I could make is a massive turnout which is a promising sign for the future of this region.
You did not answer my question. Who do you think is the winner of election?
I think the highest vote will go to the joint list of Masoud Barzani’s Kurdish Democratic Party and Jalal Talabani’s Democratic Union of Kurdistan.
How is the election going to affect security of the region?
The presidential and parliamentary elections in the Iraqi Kurdistan are democratic processes which will have substantial regional effects. One is the power it gives to people to determine the future of their country and themselves. On the other hand, these elections can solidify regional ties. And after all, election means considering the interests of all movements and parties.
What are the outcomes for the Iraqi nation?
The Iraqis support Kurds, the democratic process, stability and security in Kurdistan. They also believe in a central government. These are all encouraging signals.
Will the election in Kurdistan be of any help to the stabilization process of Iraq?
Definitely. This will be the most consequential event after foreign troops’ withdrawal.
What is the difference between the third parliamentary election in Kurdistan and the previous ones?
The difference is in the increased level of participation and competition. You can see that people’s turnout and their presence at the ballot boxes is due to the positive competition the election has fostered. All parties are doing their best to gain the highest vote and win.
Which group does Iran support in the parliamentary elections?
Iran is not supporting any Kurd group. In fact, Iran supports the entire Kurdistan region and its people. The Iraqis have control over their own life and can determine who wins the elections.
The Change List has accused the ruling parties of corruption. What do you think of these charges?
I believe no one can spoil the elections with such allegations. More than 400 representatives will monitor the elections. Those who lay these charges probably lack confidence and think they can not achieve the desired result.
Why wasn’t Prime Minister Mr. Maleki in Iraq during the elections?
Whether in Iraq or the United States, Maleki’s presence would not have a significant impact. And I don’t think he was going to imply anything. This election is a democratic, parliamentary process accomplished by the Iraqi Kurds.
The main challenger to ruling parties, the Goran List, has chosen blue as its campaign color. How do you see the color Iraqis have adopted, which seems to be an Iranian impact?
First of all, not all Iraqis have chosen the color. And second, it is actually a dark blue. As I said before the only significant difference is the variety of political groups and parties. The election will end with people’s decisive vote.
We can not announce the winner before the voting is over, but we can predict. During the campaigns and the way people of Kurdistan welcomed each group, it became clear that the joint list of Kurdistan Union will secure the absolute majority.
What is the meaning behind the color used as a symbol?
The color used by an opposition to Barzani-Talabani alliance has no specific meaning. Actually, you should ask the party about their choice. But it is another change which makes this election different from the previous ones. In other countries, each party and each political movement has selected a color as its symbol and it carries a special meaning according to its followers.
Some cynical analysts talk of vote-rigging. What do you think?
Only those unhappy with the democratic process of Kurdistan and Iraq give such untrue analyses. Media are reporting the election news every minute and so far there has been no news or rumors on manipulating the votes.