Iraqis Discouraged by Post-Election Government Negotiations
Iraqis are becoming increasingly frustrated about the delay in the formation of a new government five months after last spring's parliamentary elections, and a majority of them believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction, according to a recent public opinion poll conducted by NDI.
The survey, based on 4,000 interviews conducted June 21-26, showed that while no one choice for prime minister had a majority, the leading candidate among those polled was Ayad Allawi, representing the Iraqiyya coalition, which got the most votes in the March 7 elections.
Seventy percent of those surveyed were concerned that a government has not yet been formed, and 63 percent said they believed the country is headed in the wrong direction overall, in marked contrast to the months before the elections, when 67 percent of Iraqis felt that the country's situation was the same or better than before.
Read More »Middle Eastern Women Gain Political Inspiration in Wisconsin
The Young Women Leaders Academy, a year-long program that aims to inspire and empower young Middle Eastern women to pursue political careers in their home countries, culminated in a two-week retreat in Madison, Wisconsin, last month, where participants met with elected women leaders from across the state and honed their leadership skills and political aspirations.
The participants are now back in their home countries, where they are pursuing a range of options, from starting their own advocacy organizations to running for elective office.
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