How Iraq's political blocs are trying to win over youth
The early electoral campaigns in Iraq have been focusing on the youth, while the political parties seek to amend the electoral law to allow Iraqis as young as 25 years of age to run as candidates.
BAGHDAD — Political parties and blocs in Iraq have launched early electoral campaigns in anticipation of the provincial elections in 2017 and parliamentary elections in 2018, focusing on the votes of young Iraqis and seeking to lower the age of candidacy for the parliamentary elections.
On Aug. 17, Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq leader Ammar al-Hakim had also requested to lower the age of candidacy, which would bring into the parliament younger representatives of the political blocs.
There is no doubt that this step shows that the Iraqi youth have an important say in regard to the ongoing events, since they are the most engaged in political and social issues.
The youth represent the backbone of the civil movement and the protests calling for reform that started in June 2015. On July 13, 2016, youth groups held their first conference titled “The youth will not tire” at the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad.
