Primary election results in Iraq shows the prevalence of Shiite groups led by Moqtada al-Sadr, the influential cleric. Iraq held early election in response to public dissatisfactions.
Iraqi early parliamentary election had was held on Sunday with the results still expected. The new poll hailed as a chance to lead to a new wave of governing class with whom the unsatisfied public identify more.
Preliminary election results from a few regions indicated that Sadr coalitions and the groups led by Nuri al-Maliki had good performances. The election committee gave no details of when it will get results from the officials, implying that the final election results might be postponed.
The official records so far shows a 41% turnout in the fifth Iraqi election in two decades. The figure implies that the supporters of the current governing leaders had the main chance to secure the win. The opposing parties hoped to take more seats under the new electoral legislations.
After the government faced public backlash during the widespread protests in 2019, former prime minister announced his decision to stand down. His successor in power convened the vote months ahead of schedule to demonstrate that the administration was answering calls for greater transparency.
The demonstrators had called for a change in the regulations, claiming that they aided the concentration of power in small groups. Kadhimi, the prime minister, passed a new election legislation that is ostensibly intended to help autonomous and local parties. The former system of giving seats to party lists was abolished, replaced by a significant increase in the number of constituencies.
The election results shows that, like in any other democratic system, the power of local groups outgrows the independent candidates. The majority of reformist candidates allied with existing parties to have a voice in the election.
Election Results; Who Takes the Lead
Most pre-election surveys suggested that the Sadr’s movement, which rejects all foreign involvement, will be the largest bloc in parliament. The results, nevertheless indicates that the faction will be need to coalesce with other groups to form government.
Other Shiite groups affiliated to regional resistance movements are expected to take the second power position. It shows a predictable response to long years of occupation and intervention by western countries. Part of Iraqi protest included call for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from the country.
The two-decade favor for Shiite groups is also a public response to the long years of dictatorship by former Sunni leader Saddam Hossein. Following Saddam’s downfall in 2003, Shiite group took the lead in all previous four elections.
The National State Forces Alliance was formed by former PM Haider al-Abadi and Ammar Hakim’s Movement, named Hikma after him. The two groups secured 61 seats in total in 2018 election results.
The parliament chairman, is heading the Taqaddum movement coalition, which includes numerous Sunni figures. Iraq has a major Sunni population in northern and western regions, and is anticipated to win a large number of Sunni votes. Khamis al-Khanjar, a Sunni billionaire who embraced the Shiite Fatah Coalition following the former election, is Mohammed al-Halbousi’s major rival. Azm is the name of Khanjar’s alliance.
Since three decades ago, Iraqi Kurdish provinces have secured a de facto independence. Its political parties, nevertheless, are present during campaigns for election and are major power influencers. The Kurdistan Democratic Party, governor of the Kurdish administration in Erbil, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan in Sulaimaniya, are the main largest Kurdish groups.
Far from other considerations, the election results in Iraq may be the start of a new era in future of the country.
