Iraq's Basra province seeks upgrade to federal region
Basra governorate hopes the third time will be a charm as it once again seeks to become an Iraqi federal region.
Basra province in southern Iraq is once again seeking to become a federal region in the hopes of fixing the neglected area's dire economic and living conditions. National political parties remain divided on the issue, but provincial officials are making their move now, before the "summer crisis season" arrives, bringing mass protests and demands for better basic services like drinking water and electricity.
During these protests last year, demonstrators set fire to government buildings and the offices of political parties, as well as the Iranian Consulate.
At an April 1 session, the provincial council voted to set up a committee to implement legal and constitutional measures for establishing an officially recognized federal region.
The country’s constitution stipulates that a province can request a referendum on the matter simply by obtaining favorable votes from one-third of the provincial council’s members, or one-tenth of the governorate's voters. About 63% — 22 of the council's 35 members — have voted in favor of a referendum.
