Oct. 8, 2021

Political, sectarian divisions limit Turkmen prospects in Iraq’s elections

Iraq/Politics

The decision by eight Turkmen parties to run under a single list in Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary elections marks a significant step towards political unity for the country’s ethnic Turkmen population. On Oct. 10, seventeen Turkmen candidates will stand as parliamentary candidates under the banner of the United Iraq Turkmen Front Alliance (UITFA). The bloc is chaired by Hasan Turan, head of the Turkey-backed Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF).

The UITFA list represents the first time since 2005 that Turkmen parties have formed a united front in advance of elections. The participation of Shiite Turkmen also signals greater political coordination among Turkmen groups which are divided in their respective ties with Turkey and Iran. However, it may be that the lack of a single charismatic leader capable of ending intra-communal sectarianism and balancing Ankara-Tehran rivalries will limit the ability of Turkmen political leaders to exert influence in Baghdad....

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Mehmet Alaca
Mehmet Alaca
Mehmet Alaca
Mehmet Alaca is an academic researcher focusing on Iraq, regional Kurdish politics, and Shiite militias in ... Full Bio
فارسیPersian
فارسیPersian
عربيArabic
عربيArabic