BAGHDAD – Iraqis are heading to the polls Saturday in a parliamentary election that will test the fragile stability โachieved under Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and โshape the country’sโฃ future trajectory โamid ongoing โregionalโข tensions and internal divisions.The โคelection comes as al-Sudani seeks a โขsecond term, navigating โa complex political landscape and balancing relationships with both Iran and the United states.
The โขvote โขis taking place against a backdropโ of widespread public discontent over โcorruption and economic hardship. Allegations โฃof vote-buying have surfaced, โleading election โofficials to disqualify 848 candidates-sometimes for reasons cited as allegedly insulting โคreligious rituals or members of the armed forces.
While overall violence has decreased since the tumultuous years following โthe 2003 invasion, โsecurity remains a concern. Safaa al-Mashhadani, a โคSunni candidate and Baghdad Provincial Council member, was assassinated by aโ car bomb on Oct. โฃ15 in the al-tarmiya district โขnorth of the capital; five suspects โขhave been arrested. Past elections have โbeen marred by political violence, including assassinations and attacks on polling stations.
Groups that emerged from the anti-government protests ofโ October 2019 are participating, but are hampered by internal divisions, โฃlack of funding, andโ limited political support.
Al-Sudani, whoโข came to power โฃinโฃ 2022 โคwith the support of pro-Iran parties, has attempted toโข position himself as a pragmatist focused on improving public services.however, he faces challenges from within the Shiite coordination Framework bloc that initially brought him to power, specifically over control of state institutions. Simultaneously, theโ U.S. is increasingโฃ pressure โขonโ him to rein in Iraq’s powerful militias.
Aโฃ key point โฃof contention is the Popular Mobilization Forces โ(PMF), a coalition ofโฃ militias formed to combat the Islamic State group.Tho formally integrated into the Iraqiโข military in 2016,โ the PMF continues to operate with significant autonomy. Members of the PMF willโ vote alongside other security forces on Saturday.
Historically, Iraq’s election results have not always translated directly โฃinto the selection of the prime minister.Sinceโ 2003, โonly one Iraqi โคprime minister,โ Nouri al-Maliki, has served more than one term. The outcome of this election will beโ a crucial indicator of Iraq’s political direction,but the path โฃto forming a government remains uncertain.