Iraqi Sunni Bloc Spokesman Labels Election Law ‘a Setback’

Second Veto, Fight to Override Expected

by Jason Ditz, November 23, 2009

The Accordance Front, Iraq’s top Sunni political faction, labeled as “a setback” the latest draft agreement passed by parliament governing the nation’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

The new law was a compromise between the nation’s Shi’ite ruling faction and the Kurdish blocs, but totally bypassed the complaints made by Sunni Vice President Hashemi, whose veto made the second law necessary.

It is considered a virtual certainty that Hashemi will veto this new law, and the agreements in parliament set the stage for an attempt by the Shi’ite and Kurdish factions to override the veto, which would require a 3/5th majority.

The reality, however, is that even if they manage to override the veto it will leave a myriad of factions, not the least of which is the nation’s Sunni minority, feeling disenfranchised by a system in which representation results more from pre-vote wrangling than the actual election.

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