An Iraqi voter carries her child holding country's national flag at a polling station in the southern city of Basra during Iraq's parliamentary elections. AFP
The Independent High Electoral Commission said more than 12 million of 21 million eligible voters participated, despite influential Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr urging his followers to boycott the vote.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, seeking a second term, is expected to secure a large bloc but fall short of a majority. Preliminary results are expected within 24 hours of the polls closing.
Analyst Hamzeh Hadad said the higher turnout, while still below the 62 percent recorded in 2010 and 2014, “is a positive step for Iraq” and shows Sadr’s “influence is really limited to his followers.” He added, “It means no political leader can hold back democratic elections in Iraq.”
The election was held without Sadr’s participation; his movement withdrew from parliament in 2022 following deadly clashes in Baghdad with rival Shia factions. Since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, Shia parties—many tied to Iran—have dominated Iraq’s politics.
By convention, a Shia Arab serves as prime minister, a Sunni Arab as parliament speaker, and a Kurd as president. Sudani, who came to power in 2022 backed by the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework, is expected to seek coalition partners among other Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish parties.
On election day, some Iraqis voiced hope for change despite skepticism about the political system. “We have unemployment and people are tired, we need progress,” said Ali Abed, 57, in Mosul.
Observers say the next government will face the challenge of balancing ties between Iran and the United States amid shifting regional alliances and ongoing instability across the Middle East.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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