TEWAR PÊNCEWANÎ

Sulaymaniyah– Political parties and independent candidates speed up their campaigns for the Iraqi general elections to be held on October 10. Ronak Mecid, an independent candidate from Sulaymaniyah, spoke to NuJINHA about her electoral campaign. “No one should boycott the elections by leaving the future of this country to the sovereigns,” Ronak Mecid said, “Everyone should cast their votes.”

“No one should listen to the boycott campaigns”

The Kurdistan Regional government hasn’t been able to serve the people after the 1991 uprisings, Ronak Mecid, “Parliamentarians in Baghdad and Kurdish region are failed to defend the rights of the people. Authorities promote boycott campaigns. They tell people, ‘the winners are already determined no matter if you vote or not.' Such statements discourage citizens to vote. The citizens should see the aims of such statements and cast their votes to respond to the boycott campaigns. The regional government does not supply petrol to Baghdad and the government in Baghdad doesn’t manage the budgets and salaries in the region. The competition between two governments causes a crisis and the situation of the people is getting worse day by day.”

“A revolution without women is not a revolution”

Ronak Mecid pointed out that their society is controlled by a patriarchal mentality, “This mentality thinks that women don’t have power and will to play a role in politics. Women are prevented from playing their role in politics but we shouldn’t forget that a revolution without women is not a revolution.”

“I have many projects to realize”

Ronak Mecid talked about her projects, “I have many projects to realize. If I win, I will put these projects into practice for people. My projects are about health and education because they are important. Everyone has the right to education and health. I also have a project about the environment.”