Report by Iraqi Democracy Watch

On the Electoral campaign

(December 2005)

Under the slogan"Let Us make Democratic and Constitutional Rights a Reality”

Responding to the present needs of Iraq, the IraqFoundation launched a project aimed at monitoring the democratization process in the country through a group of civil society leaders. This project is aimed at helping Iraqenjoy peace and democracy under a constitution, which guarantees rights and freedoms for all its people. In November 2005, the Iraq Foundation formed Iraq Democracy Watch (IDW). The activities of the group include monitoring of the democratic electoral process. The groupfirmlybelievesin the significance of freeand fair elections to the promotion of democracy. IDW monitored the electoral campaigns in Iraqand observed different kinds ofviolations. IDW’s monitoring was aimed at providing guidance and addressing the violations and wasnot an act ofsimplewhistle-blowing.

The group used the following documents to identify violations:

  1. The Electoral Law issued by the National Assembly.
  2. Law number 11 issued by the HigherCommission for Elections.
  3. The Code of conduct issued by the HigherCommission for Elections.

All documents are considered equally binding for the political entities, the Commission, and the voters.

In light of what was mentioned above, the violations were limited to actions that violatethe code of conduct and the laws. The violationscan be summarized as follows:

  1. Tearing of posters
  2. Deforming pictures of political entities and candidates
  3. Abuse of religious sentiments
  4. Offering gifts
  5. Use of armed violence
  6. Use of power, money, and authority.
  7. Use of defamation and insults
  8. Use of governmental buildings
  9. Use of misleading and deceiving propaganda
  10. Bias in public media
  11. Use of government employees in the electoral campaign
  12. Malfunctioning of some centers of the electoral commission and its branches, as was the case in London.

To ensure the success of the democratic process in Iraq and to achieve positive and effective results, the group calls on the Higher Commission for Elections and governmental institutions, to assume their responsibilities in reducing the occurrence of such violations or bringing them to an end. IDW also calls for the implementation of the electoral law and the code of conduct.

Iraq Democracy Watch would like to point to a few principals, laws, and mechanisms that should be used in future national and local elections to create an atmosphere that better serves integrity, freedom, and justice. These principals include:

  • Financial transparency for political entities in financing their electoral campaigns
  • Addressing gaps in legal legislation
  • Prohibiting political entities from offering all sorts of gifts.