THERE is an air of optimism in Iraq,which will hold parliamentary elections on May 12th. It will be the fifth such vote since the tumble of Saddam Hussein in 2003, bolstering Iraq’s status as one of the few Arab democracies. Under the country’s electoral law 25% of parliament’s 329 seats must be held by women (see chart). Nearly 2600 of them (37% of candidates) are running this year. Campaign posters of female candidates, and some wearing Islamic headscarves,others uncovered and in earn-up, are all over Iraq’s cities.
The quota for female lawmakers has provoked a backlash. Since campaigning began last month, or posters of female candidates (veiled and unveiled) have...
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Source: economist.com