Reactions to the results: part 1

Jonathan Steele says in today’s Guardian that “Iraq has gained a relatively stable foundation for drawing up a new constitution after yesterday's election results” and that “The figures show that no group will be able to railroad its proposals through the drafting process. The watchwords will have to be dialogue and compromise.”

Oddly, he writes that “The turnout figure of 58%, announced yesterday, is high enough to give credibility to the new assembly, though it is much lower than hoped by those who hailed the poll two weeks ago as a triumph of freedom.” The consensus seemed to be then that 60% had turned out to vote which doesn’t seem much lower to me.

And the Guardian runs an editorial called Shia delight which says that “The announcement by the electoral commission in Baghdad heralded a new era - whatever you think of how and why Saddam Hussein was overthrown, the motives and honesty of George Bush or Tony Blair, and whether it has all been worth the cost in blood, misery, chaos and endless international acrimony.”

The leader concludes that “Iraq is still trapped cruelly between occupation and insurgency. Much will now depend on whether its politicians can match the aspirations of 8.5 million voters for security, jobs and prosperity after living with tyranny and war for so long.”

And here the role of unions and Grassroots Iraq will be vital as will our own solidarity. (GK)