United States Agency for Global Media

Alhurra-Iraq, Radio Sawa, and MBN Digital provided live and comprehensive coverage of the first Iraqi parliamentary election since the defeat of ISIS, Saturday, May 12, from its studios in Virginia and Baghdad. The coverage, entitled Iraq Elects, started at 7:00 a.m. Baghdad time as Iraqis headed to polling stations, and continued for 16 hours.

Much of the discussion highlighted the impact of regional and international actors on the internal situation in Iraq, traditional alliances, women’s participation, the influence of religious authorities on voters, duties of the next government, participation and boycotts.

Alhurra-Iraq’s correspondents interviewed politicians and voters in Baghdad, Basra, Anbar, Najaf, Sulaymaniyah, Babel, Diyala, Maysan, Salah al-Din, Karbala, Nasiriyah, Mosul, Irbil and the Green Zone. In the U.S., the network accompanied Iraqis to their polling stations in Michigan and Virginia.

Radio Sawa’s coverage focused on the role of the Independent High Electoral Commission voting mechanisms, monitoring, and the challenges facing the country. It provided coverage from the polling stations in Baghdad, Erbil, Dohuk, Anbar and other governorates in Iraq. The radio network followed Iraqis as they voted outside Iraq in Washington, New York, Paris, London, Istanbul, Beirut, Amman, Kuwait, and Cairo.

Shortly after the closing of the ballots, Free Hour produced a special from Baghdad. The program hosted experts, analysts, and youth, delving into the electoral landscape and the future of the political process. The episode was broadcast live on Radio Sawa.

For those who followed the Iraqi event on the web, MBN offered a live blog through Alhurra-Iraq and Radio Sawa websites and on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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