Not everybody votes Barzani in Erbil

06-03-2010

By Wladimir van Wilgenburg

Hewler - The capital of the Kurdistan region Hewler (Erbil) is known for its support for the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), but not everybody votes for the KDP. "In the past we were all Peshmerga, but now there is no justice," says businessman Idris Osman (46).

"In the past I supported KDP, but now I support Gorran. I'm against corruption," says Osman. According to Osman there are more supporters of the Kurdish opposition list Change (Gorran) in Hewler. "If Gorran gets the elected, they will make Kurdistan the same as the Netherlands. 19 years and nothing happened. The KDP parliament member is not good."

Shop keeper Salah Ali (35) says he is very positive about the actions of Gorran in the parliament, "they showed how corrupt they are." Some people in Hewler were scared to tell their ideas about the political parties. "If they steal millions of money, why they don't give the half of it to the poor people?," a shopkeeper asked, who wished to remain anonymous, without saying who he supported.

According to Sam Dager of the NY Times, the KDP isn't challenged in Duhok or Mosul, but it does face competition from Gorran in Hewler, where the KDP is very strong. Gorran officials claim supporters of its list are intimidated in Hewler.

But still the streets of Hewler are filled with beeping cars with KDP flags and even PUK flags. Also a lot of people on the streets are positive about KDP and especially Massoud Barzani. "Barzani is very good for us. Look how developed Hewler is, in the past we had nothing in Hewler, but now its safe and developed," says Serdar Mohammed, who sells clothes in the bazaar.

There are also supporters of the PUK in Hewler. Former Peshmerga, Bedran Salim, who now sells gold, says he will support the candidate supported by the powerful PUK-member Kosrat Rasul. "I've known Kosrat for a long time he is a very good man and was very strong in the fight against Saddam."

KDP-spokesperson Jafar Eminki told Rudaw that the Change list (Gorran) will receive at least three of the 15 seats in Hewler. Change list official Safeen Malaqara from Hewler says they could even get between 5-6 seats.

© Rudaw