Can protesters produce a political movement for elections?
Iraqi activists and leaders of protests are working to form a political movement to participate in parliamentary elections.
Iraqi protesters are seeking to form a political movement to participate in parliamentary elections to be held in 2022. After holding sit-ins, blocking roads and rallying citizens against other political parties, protesters believe that forming a political movement is the next step.
Iraqi activists and protesters say that a popular movement would create real opposition in the Iraqi parliament. Change would be affected not only by taking to the streets but by forming a movement without a religious, sectarian or national agenda.
Al-Monitor learned from activists that protest leaders and civil society activists, who have opposed the Iraqi governments formed since 2003, are discussing the need to form a political movement to participate in upcoming elections.
The popular protests that broke out after 2003 did not produce any sustained political movements. Even the alliance formed between the Iraqi Communist Party and the Sadrist movement in 2015 did not emerge from the protests. In 2020, however, the opportunity is ripe for political action.
