Psyche, Science, and Society

Iraqi Parliament rejects compromise, changes election rules

October 3rd, 2005

The Shia-dominated government has just, 12 days before the election, changed the rules for the election so as to make it impossible for Sunnis to vote the Constitution down! They are demanding that 2/3 of registered voters in three provinces reject it, where the clear intent of the clause, inserted to protect the Kurds, was that 2/3 of actual voters reject it.

However, only 50% of actual voters have to vote to pass it! The current interpretation encourages the government and allied forces to attack Sunni areas, so as to discourage voting, if not to provoke a boycott. This decision is a clear statement that the Shia forces in the government have no interest in compromise. See: Sunnis see Shi’ite manipulation ahead of Iraq vote. See also: Sunni anger at Iraq vote change. For the Sunnis, fighting will now seem like the only option.

Entry Filed under: Iraq, War and Peace