Iraqis hold little hope for change as they head to the polls

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who has sought to equilibrium Iraq’s relations with the US and Iran, is seeking a 2nd term.

Polls person opened successful Iraq for parliamentary elections that are marked by apathy and scepticism contempt adjacent geopolitical attention.

Polling started crossed the state astatine 7am (04:00 GMT) connected Tuesday, successful a ballot that volition beryllium intimately watched successful Iran and the United States.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 3Iraq’s elections and Muqtada al-Sadr’s endgame of power
• list 2 of 3Former US Vice President Dick Cheney dormant astatine 84
• list 3 of 3Iraq resumes Kurdish lipid exports to Turkiye aft two-and-a-half-year halt

The sixth predetermination since the US-led penetration toppled longtime ruler Saddam Hussein successful 2003, voting takes spot successful a comparatively unchangeable country.

However, galore Iraqis person mislaid anticipation that elections tin bring meaningful alteration to their regular lives, feeling that the ballot benefits lone governmental elites and determination powers.

Nearly 21 cardinal Iraqis are eligible to ballot crossed 4,501 polling stations nationwide, reported the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

More than 7,750 candidates, astir a 3rd of them women, are moving for 329 seats successful parliament. Under the law, 25 percent of seats are reserved for women, portion 9 are allocated for spiritual minorities.

Under the electoral instrumentality that galore judge favours larger parties, conscionable 75 autarkic candidates are standing.

Observers fearfulness that turnout mightiness dip beneath the grounds debased of 41 percent successful 2021, reflecting voters’ apathy and scepticism successful a state marked by entrenched leadership, allegations of mismanagement and endemic corruption.

The polls volition adjacent astatine 6pm (15:00 GMT), with preliminary results expected wrong 24 hours.

Familiar faces

By normal successful post-invasion Iraq, a Shia Muslim holds the almighty station of premier curate and a Sunni that of parliament speaker, portion the mostly ceremonial presidency goes to a Kurd.

However, fewer caller imaginable candidates person emerged recently, with the aforesaid seasoned politicians astatine the forefront.

Current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, elected successful 2022 with the backing of pro-Iran parties, is expected to unafraid a sizeable bloc successful parliament arsenic helium seeks a 2nd term.

Other frontrunners see influential Shia figures, erstwhile Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Muslim student Ammar al-Hakim.

An Iraqi pistillate casts her ballot during the parliamentary predetermination astatine a polling centre successful Baghdad, Iraq, November 11, 2025 [AP Photo]

Sunni parties are moving separately, with the erstwhile parliament speaker, Mohammed al-Halbousi, expected to bash well.

The ballot is marked by the lack of influential Shia person Muqtada al-Sadr, who has urged his followers to boycott the “flawed election”.

In 2021, al-Sadr secured the largest bloc earlier withdrawing from parliament pursuing a quality with Shia parties that refused to enactment his bid to signifier a government, and alternatively came unneurotic to signifier a larger alliance.

Balance

Throughout his clip successful office, al-Sudani has sought to balance Iraq’s relations with Tehran and Washington.

Even arsenic its power wanes, Iran hopes to sphere its powerfulness successful Iraq – the lone adjacent state that remained retired of Israel’s crosshairs amid the warfare successful Gaza.

By mode of contrast, Lebanon and Yemen suffered dense losses arsenic Israel struck astatine equipped groups that they host.

The US besides holds important sway successful Iraq with forces deployed crossed the country.

Early past year, pro-Iran factions successful Iraq, listed arsenic violent groups by Washington, yielded to interior and US unit and halted the targeting of these forces. Baghdad remains nether unit from the US to disarm the groups.

US envoy Mark Savaya precocious called for Iraq to beryllium freed from Iran and its proxies’ “malign” interference.