tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19727420.post6728229065547650018..comments2024-03-23T12:05:13.464-07:00Comments on Ideas: The Iraq Election PuzzleDavid Friedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06543763515095867595noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19727420.post-8877808368764763552010-04-01T16:05:57.350-07:002010-04-01T16:05:57.350-07:00A nation can have the best constitution in the wor...A nation can have the best constitution in the world and regular elections, but you can never be certain that it really is in the most important respect democratic until its government has been defeated in an election and a new one installed.<br /><br />Americans and Australians are used to this happening on a regular basis. That this could happen in Iraq gives hope that it might be practising more than just an appearance of democracy, and could be the start of building a tradition of peaceful changes of power (if that's how it pans out).Stephen Dawsonhttp://hifi-writer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19727420.post-38306120501926770932010-03-27T20:51:35.669-07:002010-03-27T20:51:35.669-07:00There are pluses to a multi-party system. Here in ...There are pluses to a multi-party system. Here in the Cincinnati -Hamilton county system, the democrats and republicans get together and pick one person to run for an elected position.<br /><br />Say the two parties decide that the republicans will get to pick the candidate for county clerk. <br /><br />The republicans pick person A for the position. Should another republican, person B, want to run for that same position, the republican party is obligated to run a negative campaign for person B while propping up person A.<br /><br />It's basic corruption 101.<br /><br />I'd like party free elections at the local level, but the current administration fighting in court to prevent the free people of the US the choice of how they elect persons to office.<br /><br />We have reached the point where the party is far more important than the people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19727420.post-53475141708681912622010-03-27T15:29:44.479-07:002010-03-27T15:29:44.479-07:00Here: http://carnegieendowment.org/publications/in...Here: http://carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=40342<br /><br />There is an investiture vote - see towards the bottom of the page.<br /><br />It says that the PM-to-be must get an absolute majority of the Council of Representatives. That makes forming a government much harder and really weakens formateur power. It wouldn't surprise me if doesn't take a while to get a stable government.Richard P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13893098969277173054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19727420.post-67988803863174782492010-03-27T15:21:09.585-07:002010-03-27T15:21:09.585-07:00The question rests upon whether Iraqi law requires...The question rests upon whether Iraqi law requires an investiture vote. <br /><br />If it does, then the opposition's strategy might work to defeat the government.<br /><br />But if there isn't one, then all the formateur has to do is get approval from the head of government for his or her government. <br /><br />Moreover, some countries require constructive votes where oppositions can only push a vote if they have a party in the wings. <br /><br />In the end, getting the power of formateur is important because that person gets the first chance. If rules are aren't lax (like investiture vote is needed) then formateur power is weak.Richard P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13893098969277173054noreply@blogger.com