Iraq Elections: Which Party Lists Are Preparing to Compete?
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar via Mehr News Agency, Iraq’s parliamentary election campaign has entered its third week.On February 11, over 21 million Iraqis will vote to elect 329 parliament members from more than 9,000 candidates competing across 31 electoral coalitions.
The political and social landscape today is markedly different from that surrounding the last parliamentary elections in 2021. This shift stems from the political stability achieved under Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s government. His policies have supported developmental programs and structural reforms that attracted over $100 billion in foreign investment and created more than 500,000 private sector jobs for Iraqi youth.
Lists and Coalitions
More than 9,000 candidates representing 343 parties are running for parliamentary seats under more than 30 electoral coalitions. The Kurdish and Sunni blocs have maintained political cohesion by preventing fragmentation into multiple smaller parties or lists that might divide voter support.
Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Within the kurdistan Region, there are five main electoral lists. Two belong to traditional parties that typically hold regional government control and key positions both in the region and Baghdad.
The Kurdistan Region’s major lists include:
- The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), led by masoud Barzani, focused on Erbil and Dohuk provinces but also contesting in Nineveh and Kirkuk.
- The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), led by Bafel Talabani, centered mainly on Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk while competing alongside other parties elsewhere.
- The Gorran Movement (Change List), primarily active in Sulaymaniyah.
- The Islamic Union of Kurdistan list concentrated mostly in sulaymaniyah, Kirkuk, and Erbil.
- The Islamic Group list present only in limited areas within the region.
Besides these major lists, some smaller local ones exist but wield little influence.
Iraqi Sunnis
In Sunni-majority areas, four coalitions contend seriously for seats:
- Taqaddum Coalition led by Mohammed Al-Halbousi, Speaker during Iraq’s last two parliaments;
- Seyada Coalition headed by Khamis al-Khanjar;
<li-Azm Coalition under Muthanna Al-Samarrai;
<li-Hasm Coalition led by current Defense Minister Thabit Al-Abbasi.
pundits predict Taqaddum will secure the highest votes among Sunnis nationwide-placing second overall nationally-while other sunni coalitions rank lower. Notably,: Sunni regions have successfully avoided fragmentation into several minor lists ahead of this election cycle.”
Iraqi Shiites
<I n Shiite-dominant provinces ,t he greatest number o f e lectoral l ists a nd c oalitions emerge . A ccording t o data provided b y I raqi H iegh C ommission Election , S hiite l ists i nclude :
Badr List h ead ed By H adi A lima ri.
State Assembly Chair ham Amam Hamudi
— others …
