The Basra Provincial Council has voted to hold a referendum on creating a new federal region, as local politicians reopen an old populist playbook in response to enduring anger over dysfunctional governance. If past efforts to turn Basra into a region are any indication, the road to a referendum is strewn with obstacles – chiefly, a lack of support from the federal government to hold a vote, the steep challenge of convincing over half the population to vote “yes,” and legal ambiguity around what formal powers Basra would stand to gain. This content is for registered users . Please login to continue. If you are not […]