Turnout hit a record low for parliamentary elections in war-scarred Iraq, early figures showed Monday, amid widespread disillusionment about a political elite seen as inept and corrupt.

Sunday's vote was moved forward from 2022 as a concession to an anti-government protest movement that has demanded deep reforms in the oil-rich yet poverty-stricken country.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraqis-head-to-early-vote-with-little-hope-for-change-419564">Iraqis head to early vote with little hope for change</a>

But in the end voter participation hit a new low in Iraq's fifth election since the 2003 US-led invasion that ousted dictator Saddam Hussein with the promise of bringing freedom and democracy.&nbsp;

Preliminary turnout was just 41 percent, based on results from 94 percent of voting stations, the election commission said -- below the 44.5 percent recorded in 2018.

"There's general apathy. People just don't believe that elections matter," said Iraqi researcher Sajad Jiyad of the Century Foundation think-tank.

"The weak turnout is a warning. It is not only the legitimacy of the next prime minister that is in question, but also the legitimacy of the government, of the state -- of the entire system."

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi brought forward the vote to appease a youth-led protest movement that erupted two years ago against graft, unemployment and crumbling public services.

Iraq is a major oil producer but nearly a third of its almost 40 million people live in poverty, according to UN figures, and the Covid pandemic only deepened a long-running crisis.&nbsp;

The premier and national spy chief tweeted that he had "kept his promise and done his duty by organising fair elections".

Kadhemi's own political future is now uncertain, with few observers willing to predict who will emerge as leader after the usual political haggling between factions that follow Iraqi elections.

Early fireworks&nbsp;

The election was held under tight security in a country where key parliamentary blocs have armed factions and Islamic State group jihadists have launched mass-casualty suicide attacks this year.

Airports were closed and travel between provinces banned, while voters were searched twice at polling stations.

An attack blamed on IS on a voting centre in a remote part of northern Iraq left a police officer dead, a security source said.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italian-dictator-mussolinis-granddaughter-tops-polls-in-rome-council-vote-418979">&nbsp;Italian dictator Mussolini's granddaughter tops polls in Rome council vote</a>

And a soldier was killed and another wounded by "accidental fire" from a fellow soldier at a polling station in Diyala province bordering Baghdad, officials said.

Authorities also reported the arrests of 77 suspects for electoral "violations".

The vote was marred by technical problems at some stations, including malfunctioning equipment and fingerprint readers, officials and AFP journalists said.

Official provisional results were now expected until later Monday, but some candidates already claimed victory and celebrated with fireworks overnight in Baghdad and the southern city of Nassiriyah.

Fragmented parliament&nbsp;

In Sunday's election, some 25 million eligible voters were called to choose from more than 3,200 candidates.

A new single-member constituency system for electing Iraq's 329 lawmakers aimed to boost independents versus the traditional blocs largely centred on religious, ethnic and clan affiliations.

Iraqi politics, and the legislature, have been dominated by factions representing the country's Shiite Muslim majority since the fall of Saddam's Sunni-led regime.

But they are increasingly split, including in their attitudes toward powerful Shiite neighbour Iran, which competes with the United States for strategic influence in Iraq.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/qataris-vote-in-subdued-first-legislative-election-417615">Qataris vote in subdued first legislative election</a>

The biggest bloc has been the Sadrist camp of Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr, a political maverick and former anti-US militia leader who opposes all foreign influence in Iraq.

Sadr was among those who hailed their electoral "success" ahead of official preliminary results.

The most powerful pro-Iranian factions are from the bloc linked to the Hashed al-Shaabi umbrella group of paramilitary groups, which helped defeat IS.

Experts predict that the large blocs are likely to preserve their dominance in the fragmented parliament, where the llack of a clear majority will force them to negotiate alliances.

Iraq by convention has had a Shiite Muslim prime minister, a Sunni parliament speaker and a Kurdish president.

Turnout hit a record low for parliamentary elections in war-scarred Iraq, early figures showed Monday, amid widespread disillusionment about a political elite seen as inept and corrupt.

Turnout hit a record low for parliamentary elections in war-scarred Iraq, early figures showed Monday, amid widespread disillusionment about a political elite seen as inept and corrupt. Sunday's vote was moved forward from 2022 as a concession to an anti-government protest movement that has demanded deep reforms in the oil-rich yet poverty-stricken country. Also Read | Iraqis head to early vote with little hope for change But in the end voter participation hit a new low in Iraq's fifth election since the 2003 US-led invasion that ousted dictator Saddam Hussein with the promise of bringing freedom and democracy. Preliminary turnout was just 41 percent, based on results from 94 percent of voting stations, the election commission said -- below the 44.5 percent recorded in 2018. "There's general apathy. People just don't believe that elections matter," said Iraqi researcher Sajad Jiyad of the Century Foundation think-tank. "The weak turnout is a warning. It is not only the legitimacy of the next prime minister that is in question, but also the legitimacy of the government, of the state -- of the entire system." Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi brought forward the vote to appease a youth-led protest movement that erupted two years ago against graft, unemployment and crumbling public services. Iraq is a major oil producer but nearly a third of its almost 40 million people live in poverty, according to UN figures, and the Covid pandemic only deepened a long-running crisis. The premier and national spy chief tweeted that he had "kept his promise and done his duty by organising fair elections". Kadhemi's own political future is now uncertain, with few observers willing to predict who will emerge as leader after the usual political haggling between factions that follow Iraqi elections. Early fireworks The election was held under tight security in a country where key parliamentary blocs have armed factions and Islamic State group jihadists have launched mass-casualty suicide attacks this year. Airports were closed and travel between provinces banned, while voters were searched twice at polling stations. An attack blamed on IS on a voting centre in a remote part of northern Iraq left a police officer dead, a security source said. Also Read | Italian dictator Mussolini's granddaughter tops polls in Rome council vote And a soldier was killed and another wounded by "accidental fire" from a fellow soldier at a polling station in Diyala province bordering Baghdad, officials said. Authorities also reported the arrests of 77 suspects for electoral "violations". The vote was marred by technical problems at some stations, including malfunctioning equipment and fingerprint readers, officials and AFP journalists said. Official provisional results were now expected until later Monday, but some candidates already claimed victory and celebrated with fireworks overnight in Baghdad and the southern city of Nassiriyah. Fragmented parliament In Sunday's election, some 25 million eligible voters were called to choose from more than 3,200 candidates. A new single-member constituency system for electing Iraq's 329 lawmakers aimed to boost independents versus the traditional blocs largely centred on religious, ethnic and clan affiliations. Iraqi politics, and the legislature, have been dominated by factions representing the country's Shiite Muslim majority since the fall of Saddam's Sunni-led regime. But they are increasingly split, including in their attitudes toward powerful Shiite neighbour Iran, which competes with the United States for strategic influence in Iraq. Also Read | Qataris vote in subdued first legislative election The biggest bloc has been the Sadrist camp of Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr, a political maverick and former anti-US militia leader who opposes all foreign influence in Iraq. Sadr was among those who hailed their electoral "success" ahead of official preliminary results. The most powerful pro-Iranian factions are from the bloc linked to the Hashed al-Shaabi umbrella group of paramilitary groups, which helped defeat IS. Experts predict that the large blocs are likely to preserve their dominance in the fragmented parliament, where the llack of a clear majority will force them to negotiate alliances. Iraq by convention has had a Shiite Muslim prime minister, a Sunni parliament speaker and a Kurdish president.

Record low voter turnout mars Iraqi parliamentary elections

DETROIT (Reuters) - Automotive industry executives are less interested in pursuing acquisitions this year as compared to the last year. They prefer deals that minimize political or technology risks, according to a new survey by Ernst and Young. 
 
About 52 per cent of senior auto industry executives that were surveyed said they planned to pursue an acquisition within the next 12 months, down from 59 percent in October 2015 and 70 percent in April 2015, Ernst and Young found. The consulting and accounting firm said it surveyed more than 100 senior auto industry executives for its twice yearly Automotive Capital Confidence Barometer.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;They are trying to spread out and minimize their risk,&quot; Mark Short, global automotive and transportation industry leader for Ernst and Young&rsquo;s transaction advisory services, told Reuters. Those risks can be political, economic and technological, he said. 
 
Some recent high profile automotive deals, including Toyota Motor Corp`s investment in Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL], reflect automakers` efforts to get a foothold in new technology or business models, such as self-driving cars and ride hailing. 
 
The United States, the UK, Germany, India and Brazil are the top countries targeted for investment among auto executives surveyed, Ernst and Young found. 
 
&ldquo;For the first time in a very, very long time China&rsquo;s not in our top five market destinations for deals,&rdquo; Short said. 
 
Auto makers and suppliers poured money into China as it grew to become the world&rsquo;s largest auto market by vehicle sales. Now, there is concern that the Chinese economy may be slowing. 
 
In Brazil, vehicle sales are slumping with the rest of the economy, but assets &ldquo;are very, very cheap,&rdquo; Short said. 
 
Companies are doing &ldquo;a lot of scenario planning&rdquo; for the possibility that British voters will opt to exit the European Union, Short said. So far, Ernst and Young has not seen potential deals get put off because of uncertainty over Britain&rsquo;s future in the EU, he said. 
 
About a third of executives surveyed said they are looking for alliances with other companies to make money from underused assets or reinforce research and development. Short said automotive companies and technology companies can ally themselves to explore ventures without committing significant cash.

utomotive industry executives are less interested in pursuing acquisitions this year as compared to the last year. They prefer deals that minimize political or technology risks, according to a new survey by Ernst and Young.

DETROIT (Reuters) - Automotive industry executives are less interested in pursuing acquisitions this year as compared to the last year. They prefer deals that minimize political or technology risks, according to a new survey by Ernst and Young. About 52 per cent of senior auto industry executives that were surveyed said they planned to pursue an acquisition within the next 12 months, down from 59 percent in October 2015 and 70 percent in April 2015, Ernst and Young found. The consulting and accounting firm said it surveyed more than 100 senior auto industry executives for its twice yearly Automotive Capital Confidence Barometer. "They are trying to spread out and minimize their risk," Mark Short, global automotive and transportation industry leader for Ernst and Young’s transaction advisory services, told Reuters. Those risks can be political, economic and technological, he said. Some recent high profile automotive deals, including Toyota Motor Corp`s investment in Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL], reflect automakers` efforts to get a foothold in new technology or business models, such as self-driving cars and ride hailing. The United States, the UK, Germany, India and Brazil are the top countries targeted for investment among auto executives surveyed, Ernst and Young found. “For the first time in a very, very long time China’s not in our top five market destinations for deals,” Short said. Auto makers and suppliers poured money into China as it grew to become the world’s largest auto market by vehicle sales. Now, there is concern that the Chinese economy may be slowing. In Brazil, vehicle sales are slumping with the rest of the economy, but assets “are very, very cheap,” Short said. Companies are doing “a lot of scenario planning” for the possibility that British voters will opt to exit the European Union, Short said. So far, Ernst and Young has not seen potential deals get put off because of uncertainty over Britain’s future in the EU, he said. About a third of executives surveyed said they are looking for alliances with other companies to make money from underused assets or reinforce research and development. Short said automotive companies and technology companies can ally themselves to explore ventures without committing significant cash.

Auto executives going soft on acquisitions, says E&Y.

less

Less, News on Less, stories on Less, articles on Less, Less stories at Wion, Less news, Less latest news