The 2021 Iraqi Elections: The Youth Vote
Signs indicate that the surging youth vote will be decisive in the Iraqi elections, Al Mayadeen English roams the streets of Baghdad to talk to young people.
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The Iraqi elections will certainly make or break the hope of the young.
Mays, Seif, Gaith, Zahraa, and Zein, like all modern Iraqi generations, have seen a lot in their short lifetimes: a US invasion in 2003, the insurgence of ISIS in 2014, record unemployment, and a global pandemic.
Today, many young Iraqis yearn for change. Mays, a 30- year-old Iraqi woman sitting outside a café in Baghdad, told Al Mayadeen English that she has high hopes for the outcome of the elections.
“I say, let’s get to work, all eyes of the world are on Iraq.”
The Iraqi young woman believes that if the new government wants a successful leadership, it must start from scratch.
“In my opinion, it is childhood and youth. There needs to be a focus on the younger generation of 4 to 12 years old,” she added.
Key issues to young voters
Many young Iraqis share common aspirations and this may be salient in the polls on October 10th - the parliamentary elections are expected to be of great importance.
Iraq, which is still emerging from the devastating impact of the US invasion and the insurgence of ISIS, is eager to break free from the agony of the past - especially the younger generation.
Thirteen days before the Iraqi elections, banners of candidates were displayed in public squares and along main avenues, and rallies were held across the country.
The elections were originally scheduled for 2022, but Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi moved them to June this year, then to October.
The government's decision to hold early elections was motivated by youth calls for reform; for many young Iraqis, the early elections will shift the country’s political map and reform the current situation.
Gaith, 22-years-old, told Al Mayadeen English that Iraqis yearn for security and stability, adding that “we want everyone to play their appropriate role."
“Hopefully this election will ensure that all Iraqi demands are met,” he enthusiastically stressed.
Zahraa, a 24 year-old-Iraqi woman hoped that the outcome of the elections will bring forth positive change to the Iraqi people.
“All we ask is security, stability, and better employment opportunities for the youth,” Zahraa mused.
In 2018, the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) at the Iraqi Ministry of Planning stated that the youth segment of (15-39 years old) is around 15 million and 240 thousand people, which classifies the Iraqi society as a young society.
While most Iraqi youths were hopeful regarding their contribution in the upcoming elections, others undermined any realistic prospects for change.
Zein, a 24-year-old who sat with his friends in a Baghdad cafe, detailed that all basic necessities for decent living standards are present in every country except the one he lives in.
“There is no employment, no security. All the demands of the youth are modest and mutual.”
Zein’s sentiment is shared by his friend, Seif, who added that most of the candidates only work hard before the elections; after the elections, there are no results.
"So," he sighed, “I am boycotting the election and not participating."
Candidates emerge as the faces of youth
Two young Iraqi candidates emerge as the faces of Iraqi youth in the upcoming elections: Haydar el-Remeid and Seif el-Zawbaee.
In an interview for Al Mayadeen, Haydar el-Remeid expressed that the Iraqi youths were subjected to bitter political experiences post-2003, adding that university graduates paid the ultimate price.
"As a result, I am a candidate. Youth will be the decisive factor in the upcoming elections," el-Remeid asserted. On his account, Seif el-Zawbaee seconded el-Remeid's statements.
"If there is no youth participation in the parliament, their rights may not be secured. In order to deliver change, they must be properly represented in parliament," el-Zawbaee said.
Your votes are the future of Iraq
On his account, the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi addressed the Iraqi people, saying, “Your votes are the future of Iraq." Al-Kadhimi urged the Iraqis to obtain their voter's cards.
Our dear Iraqi people. For the sake of yours & your children’s future, I urge you to get your voter registration cards. Your votes are a responsibility that shouldn’t go to waste. Those wanting reform & change should aim for a high voter turnout.
— Mustafa Al-Kadhimi مصطفى الكاظمي (@MAKadhimi) September 26, 2021
Your votes are the future of Iraq
The Prime Minister tweeted, "Our dear Iraqi people. For the sake of your and your children’s future, I urge you to obtain your voter registration cards. Your votes are a responsibility that shouldn’t go to waste. Those wanting reform and change should aim for a high voter turnout. Your votes are the future of Iraq.”
Besides, the Head of the European Union Election Monitoring Mission in Iraq, Viola von Cramon, described the upcoming elections as historic.
Before concluding her visit to Iraq, she highlighted the importance of the event, emphasizing that preparations are going in full swing and all efforts are in process to ensure the integrity of the voting and the safety of voters.
She stressed that security is a critical factor, detailing that voters must have confidence that their vote does make a difference.
In a nutshell, the Iraqi elections will certainly make or further break the future hope of the young people in the war-torn country.
