The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced the official election results, with the Reconstruction and Development Coalition leading nationwide, while Kurdish parties secured a total of 58 seats. In the Kurdistan Region, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) remain the major parties, having received the most votes.

Iraq held a special election on Sunday and a general election on Tuesday last week, in which 7,754 candidates competed for 329 seats for the sixth term of Parliament.

During a press conference on Monday, Omar Ahmed Mohammed, Chairman of the IHEC’s Board of Commissioners, congratulated the people on the successful electoral process.

Shia Factions Attain Parliamentary Majority

According to the official announcement, Shia factions have secured the majority of parliamentary seats.

The Reconstruction and Development Coalition, led by Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, secured the most seats in Baghdad with a total of 15. Following them are the Taqadum Party with 10 seats and the State of Law Coalition with 9 seats.

Baghdad Vote Totals and Invalid Ballots

Vote totals in Baghdad are as follows: Mohammed Shia al-Sudani received 92,514 votes, Mohammed al-Halbousi garnered 72,374 votes, and Nouri al-Maliki received 68,836 votes.

The Baghdad constituency recorded over 105,000 invalid votes.

PUK Leads in Kirkuk as Kurdish Votes Fragment

In Kirkuk, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has secured 4 seats, the Taqadum Party has obtained 3 seats, the Iraqi Turkmen Front has secured 2 seats, and the KDP has also secured 1 seat.

Nearly 15,000 Kurdish ballots were lost due to the fragmentation of Kurdish lists and the mechanics of the electoral system in the city.

Rebwar Taha Tops Votes Nationwide; Kurdish candidate Wins Baghdad Seat

Rebwar Taha, listed under the Patriotic Union, secured the highest number of votes in Iraq, and PUK’s Ayat Adham, a Kurdish candidate of PUK under al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition list, won a seat in Baghdad. 

KDP Leads in Erbil; PUK Dominates Sulaymaniyah

In the Kurdistan Region, the KDP leads in Erbil with 9 seats, followed by the PUK with 3 seats, the National Stance Movement with 2 seats, and the New Generation Movement with 1 seat.

Meanwhile, in Sulaymaniyah, the PUK leads with 8 seats. The National Stance Movement and the Kurdistan Democratic Party each hold 3 and 2 seats, respectively, while the Kurdistan Islamic Union has secured 2 seats and the Kurdistan Justice Group has 1 seat.

Next Steps Under the Iraqi Constitution

According to the Iraqi constitution, following the announcement of the final results, the procedures include submitting the results to the Federal Supreme Court for approval. Subsequently, the president is required to request the Parliament to convene its first session within 15 days.

During the initial session, the parliamentary presidency is elected, followed by the election of a new president within 30 days, who then designates the largest faction to form a new cabinet within 15 days.

Parties Begin Consultations on New Cabinet

As the official results were announced today, political parties have begun taking steps to initiate discussions on the formation of a new cabinet, and so far, several meetings have been held.

The Supreme Judicial Council stressed earlier that the Federal Supreme Court will not delay the approval of the final election results and urged political parties to adhere to the constitutional deadline for forming a new cabinet.

Federal Court Dissolves Parliament and Moves Cabinet to Caretaker Role

In the meantime, the Federal Supreme Court on Monday ruled to end the mandate of the Council of Representatives and transition the current cabinet into a caretaker government.

The court also confirmed that the President of the Republic will continue to exercise his constitutional duties.

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