President Barham Salih receiving Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi at Salam Palace in the capital Baghdad. AFP
President Barham Salih receiving Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi at Salam Palace in the capital Baghdad. AFP
President Barham Salih receiving Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi at Salam Palace in the capital Baghdad. AFP
President Barham Salih receiving Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi at Salam Palace in the capital Baghdad. AFP

Iraqi president announces early elections in October


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

Iraqi President Barham Salih signed on Monday a decree to hold early elections on October 10, responding to a key demand by protesters since late 2019.

Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis took to the streets in Baghdad and the southern provinces to vent their anger and frustration at the government's inability to fight corruption and provide them with security and stability since late 2019.

"We invite everyone to participate and to express their free will as it is an opportunity.. to ensure Iraq's transition towards development, stability and independence," Mr Salih said.

Demonstrators have been calling for an end to endemic corruption by a political class that is largely seen as having squandered Iraq's resources through greed and mismanagement.
The protests were violently quelled resulting in the death of hundreds and injury of thousands.

Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi vowed to meet the demands of protesters by holding early elections in June 6, 2021, nearly a year ahead of schedule, when he took office last May.

These were later postponed to October 10.

The delay was due to "technical" requirements, Mr Al Kadhimi said in January in a proposal submitted to the Cabinet to ensure a transparent electoral process.

He did not provide details on what the issues were.

The May 2018 federal elections were mired with allegations of voter fraud and corruption and saw historically low turnout.

Parliament must dissolve itself in order for the polls to be held.

Late last year, Mr Salih ratified a new electoral law aimed at giving political independents a chance at winning seats in parliament.

The law was passed in parliament despite objections from political parties.

Over 25 million Iraqis are eligible to vote in the upcoming ballot, however, those living abroad will be excluded from casting their ballots, according to Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission said.

The 12 breakaway clubs

England

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur

Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus

Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid

Qosty Byogaani

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Punchy appearance

Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance

Racecard

5.25pm: Etihad Museum – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m

6pm: Al Shindaga Museum – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (Dirt) 1,200m

6.35pm: Poet Al Oqaili – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m

7.10pm: Majlis Ghurfat Al Sheif – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,600m

7.45pm: Hatta – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m

8.20pm: Al Fahidi – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m

8.55pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m

9.30pm: Coins Museum – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m

10.05pm: Al Quoz Creative – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m

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Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

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Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

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The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter

1. Dubai silk road

2.  A geo-economic map for Dubai

3. First virtual commercial city

4. A central education file for every citizen

5. A doctor to every citizen

6. Free economic and creative zones in universities

7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes

8. Co-operative companies in various sectors

­9: Annual growth in philanthropy

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Third Test

Day 3, stumps

India 443-7 (d) & 54-5 (27 ov)
Australia 151

India lead by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining

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Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

Who is Allegra Stratton?

 

  • Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
  • Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
  • In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
  • The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
  • Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
  • She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
  • Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth