In the capital of Iraq, Baghdad and in cities in the south of the country, protesters took to the streets to declare their disagreement with the decision of the country’s president to appoint Muhammad Tawfik Allawi as new Iraqi prime minister.
Demonstrators previously stressed that they would not accept a candidate elected by the Iraqi ruling elite. In addition, Muhammad Taufik Allawi previously headed the country’s Ministry of Communications and for protesters as a representative of this elite. Demonstrators demand that an independent candidate become the new prime minister.
The demonstrators in Iraq during the protests since the beginning of October 2019 demand the resignation of the government, the fight against corruption, unemployment, and better living conditions. As a result of clashes and riots accompanying the protest, according to Iraqi President Barham Saleh, more than 600 people were killed and about 50,000 were injured. These are the largest protests that have occurred in Iraq since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003.
On December 24, 2019, the Iraqi parliament voted in favor of a new election law, which protesters demanded for several months.