This archive report was first published on 23 December 2019.
December 23, 2019 - Anti-government protests have resumed in Iraq, with demonstrators burning tyres in major cities and calling for a new prime minister who is competent and independent.
The protests, which began in October, have seen hundreds of people killed and thousands injured in clashes with security forces.
On Sunday, demonstrators announced civil disobedience campaigns in several southern cities, including Diwaniyah, Nasiriyah, Hilla, Kut, and Amara, where schools and public buildings were closed.
"We are upping our actions because we oppose any candidate from the political class that has been robbing us since 2003," said Ali al-Diwani, a young protester in Diwaniyah.
Protesters are demanding a new prime minister who is not affiliated with the ruling parties, which they accuse of corruption and mismanagement.
They are also calling for electoral reform, including a switch to a first-past-the-post system to ensure a new generation of politicians can enter politics and clean up the corruption.
Political Paralysis ¶
The government remains paralyzed, with officials unable to agree on a new prime minister to replace Adel Abdel Mahdi, who quit in November.
Iran is reportedly pushing for Qusay al-Suhail, a former higher education minister, to be appointed as the new prime minister, but Iraqi President Barham Saleh has vetoed his appointment.
