Thursday, December 21, 2023

Coordination Framework Looks To Take Control Of Most Of Iraq’s Provinces


As expected the ruling Coordination Framework was the biggest winner in Iraq’s 2023 provincial elections. Even though it ran as three separate lists, Nuri al-Maliki’s State of Law, Hadi Amiri’s Nabni, and Haidar al-Abadi and Ammar Hakim’s National State Forces Alliance, they
won the most seats up for grabs on governorate councils. They will now re-unite and attempt to control most of Iraq’s provinces solidifying their hold on the Iraqi state.

 

Of the 285 council seats up for election the Coordination Framework won 101. That was to be expected as its main rival Moqtada al-Sadr called a boycott. That allowed the Framework to sweep most of the southern provinces. There were some exceptions however.

 

In Basra Governor Eidani’s Tasmim list won 12 out of 23 seats up for grabs. The Framework took 10 seats. This is a hotly contested province because of its oil wealth and the potential to rob and steal. It’s said Asaib Ahl Al-Haq wants to run the governorate. It may have to wait. In Karbala a local list Creativity of Karbala got 6 out of 14 seats versus 5 for the Framework.

 

The Framework must also be disappointed in its showing in Baghdad where former Speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi’s Taqadum came in first and won 9 seats. The Framework still took 23 out of 44 seats. Al Aalem reported that Halbusi will be the main topic of discussion within the Framework. Some elements may want to compromise with him by offering Halbusi a prominent position in the new Baghdad government but others may want to weaken him by excluding him. The latter could lead to serious political problems. 

 

Since forming the Sudani government in 2022 the Framework has seen a series of important victories. The Kurdistan Regional Government has become dependent upon Baghdad due to the closure of the pipeline to Turkey which has deprived the Kurds of their main source of income. It passed a three year budget which prioritizes paying government salaries the main form of patronage the ruling parties use to maintain its followers and buy off voters. It was likely behind the removal of Speaker Halbusi in an attempt to keep the Sunni parties in check. Now it will gain control of many provinces because of Sadr’s boycott.

 

Partial Early Election Results

 

Anbar

1. Anbar Is Our Identity

2. Taqadum/Halbusi

3. Qimam Alliance

 

Babil

Coordination Framework 11 out of 19 seats

 

1. Nabni/Amiri 5 seats

2. State of Law/Maliki 3 seats

3. National State Forces/Abadi & Hakim 3 seats

4. Ishraqat Kanoon 2 seats

5. People’s Parliament 2 seats

6. Absher Ya Iraq 1 seat

7. Qiyam Alliance 1 seat

8. Madar 1 seat

9. Faw Zakho 1 seat

 

Baghdad

Coordination Framework 23 of 44 seats

 

1. Taqadum/Halbusi 9 seats

2. Nabni/Amiri 9 seats

3. State of Law/Maliki 9 seats

4. National State Forces/Abadi & Hakim 5 seats

5. Sovereignty Alliance 5 seats

6. Decisiveness 3 seats

7. Foundation 2 seats

8. Absher Ya Iraq 1 seat

9. Ishraqat Kanoon 1 seat

 

Basra

Coordination Framework 10 of 23 seats

 

1. Tasmim 12 seats

2. Nabni/Amiri 5 seats

3. State of Law/Maliki 3 seats

4. National State Forces/Abadi & Hakim 2 seats

5. Asas 1 seat

 

Dhi Qar

Coordination Framework 12 of 20 seats

 

1. Nabni/Amiri 5 seats

2. State of Law/Maliki 4 seats

3. National State Forces/Abadi & Hakim 3 seats

4. Makina 3 seats

5. Task 1 seat

6. Qiyam Alliance 1 seat

7. Absher Ya Iraq 1 seat

8. Asas 1 seat

9. Ishraqat Kanoon 1 seat

 

Diwaniya

1. State of Law/Maliki

2. Qiyam Alliance

3. Nabni /Amiri

 

Diyala

1. Diyala National Alliance 4 seats

2. & 4. Taqadum/Halbusi 3 seats & Azm/Khanjar 2 seats

3. Sovereignty Alliance 3 seats

5. Diyala Entitlement 1 seat

6. Asas 1 seat

7. National Union 1 seat

 

Karbala

Coordination Framework 5 of 14 seats

 

1. Creativity of Karbala 6 seats

2. Nabni/Amiri 2 seats

3. State of Law/Maliki 2 seats

4. Absher Ya Iraq 2 seats

5. Ishraqat Kanoon 1 seat

6. National State Forces 1 seat

 

Kirkuk

1. PUK 5 seats

2. Arab Alliance 3 seats

3. Turkmen Front 2 seats

4. Al-Qiada 2 seats

5. KDP 2 seats

6. Arabism 1 seat

7. Quota 1 seat

 

Maysan

Coordination Framework 12 of 13 seats

 

1. Nabni/Amiri 6 seats

2. State of Law/Maliki 3 seats

3. National State Forces/Abadi & Hakim 3 seats

4. Generations 1 seat

 

Muthanna

1. State of Law/Maliki

2. National State Forces/Abadi & Hakim

3. Nabni/Amiri

 

Najaf

1. State of Law/Maliki

2. Nabni/Amiri

3. Wafah Movement

 

Ninewa

1. Ninewa For Its People 5 seats

2. KDP 4 seats

3. National Contract 3 seats

4. Sovereignty Alliance 2 seats

5. and 10. Taqadum/Halbusi 2 seats & Azm/Khanjar 1 seat

6. Decisiveness 2 seats

7. Hadbaa Alliance 2 seats

8. National Identity 2 seats

9. Union of the People of Ninewa 2 seats

11. Tagdeed 1 seat

 

Salahaddin

1. National Audiences 5 seats

2. Framework Alliance 2 seats

3. and 5. Taqadum/Halbusi & Azm/Khanjar 4 seats

4. Hasim 2 seats

6. Sovereignty Alliance 2 seats

 

Wasit

Coordination Framework 7 of 15 seats

 

1. Wasit Amal 7 seats

2. State of Law/Maliki 3 seats

3. National State Forces/Abadi & Hakim 2 seats

4. Nabni/Amiri 2 seats

5. Khaimat Wasit 1 seat

 

SOURCES

 

Al Aalem, “The new Baghdad Council .. Will it cause the presidency of Parliament to go to the Coordination Framework?” 12/21/23

 

Al Jazeera, “Iraq’s governing Shia alliance strengthened in provincial elections,” 12/20/23

 

Al Mada, “The Framework list, open and in the shadows, controls more than half the provincial seats,” 12/20/23

 

NINA, “The coordination framework announces the formation of a bloc in all governorates to accelerate the formation of local councils,” 12/20/23

- “Distribution of seats in Babylon according to the preliminary results of the provincial council elections,” 12/20/23

- “Distribution of seats in Baghdad according to the preliminary results of the provincial council elections,” 12/20/23

- “Distribution of seats in Basra according to the preliminary results of the provincial council elections,” 12/20/23

- “Distribution of seats in Dhi Qar according to the preliminary results of the provincial council elections,” 12/20/23

- “Distribution of seats in Diyala according to the preliminary results of the provincial council elections,” 12/20/23

- “Distribution of seats in Karbala according to the preliminary results of the provincial council elections,” 12/20/23

- “Distribution of seats in Kirkuk according to the preliminary results of the provincial council elections,” 12/20/23

- “Distribution of seats in Maysan according to the preliminary results of the provincial council elections,” 12/20/23

- “Distribution of seats in Nineveh according to the preliminary results announced by the Commission,” 12/20/23

- “Distribution of seats in Salah al-Din according to the preliminary results announced by the Election Commission,” 12/20/23

- “Distribution of seats in Wasit according to the preliminary results announced by the Commission,” 12/20/23

 

Rudaw, “Preliminary results from Iraq’s provincial council elections,” 12/19/23

 

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