Iraq is due to have parliamentary elections in November 2025. In the run up to the vote the Election Commission and the Accountability and Justice Commission are banning dozens and dozens of candidates, some of them very well known. This a throwback to 2010 when the same thing happened to help ensure the ruling Shiite parties remained in power.
At the start of August the Election Commission removed 68 candidates from the rolls which included the Secretary General of the Masses Party MP Ahmed al-Jabouri and the former Ninewa Governor Najm al-Jabouri. They were banned for fraud, corruption and other crimes.
A few days later over 200 more were banned. One report said it was 253 candidates while another said it was 281. Some of the names on the list were Abbas al-Amiri the Secretary General of the ruling Coordination Framework and Parliamentarian Hassan al-Khafaji who heads the investment committee. Such prominent politicians being included immediately drew criticisms. If they are in office right now how could they be banned? The Election Commission said that people could appeal their ruling.
More importantly there are reports that around 400 other candidates are being reviewed by the Accountability and Justice Commission for their Baathist pasts. Al Mada reported that many on the list are from Shiite lists. It got access to leaked documents that named 1 Hashd leader in Kirkuk, 2 from State of Law, 1 from Badr, 1 from Asaib Ahl Al-Haq and 1 from the Islamic Supreme Council in Diwaniya, 1 from the Supreme Council, 1 from State of Law, 1 from Badr and 1 from Asaib Ahl Al-Haq in Basra, around 40 from the Coordination Framework in Baghdad, and 1 from Asaib Ahl Al-Haq, 1 from the Supreme Council, 1 from State of Law and 1 from Dawa in Dhi Qar. In the past the Shiite parties have used their influence to get their people exempt from deBaathification, but that could change this year due to political differences within the ruling coalition.
Right now the ruling Coordination Framework is split between Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani and his main rival for his position Nuri al-Maliki the head of State of Law. The latter is pushing the Baathist threat to Iraq just like he did in 2010 when hundreds of people were banned. That divide could mean some Shiites will be barred from running this year.
Iraq’s government and elections are highly flawed. There is always massive corruption and fraud and political campaigns can stir up the public over imaginary threats such as the return of Baathists. Banning hundreds of candidates and the threat to do more is part of this political theater between the elite. The Sudani-Maliki rivalry opens the door to even more machinations.
SOURCES
Al Aalem, "The exclusion of 68 candidates sparks controversy, and the commission defends itself Will the elections ignite before they even begin?” 8/12/25
- “A wave of exclusions: 281 candidates, including former ministers and MPs, withdraw from the elections," 8/17/25
Al Mada, “Election campaigns warn of a coup and the return of Baath elements,” 8/10/25
- “Resistance Factions Nominate Baathists for Elections!” 8/18/25
NINA, “MP Raed al-Maliki: The number of candidates excluded by the Electoral Commission’s decions may reach 400,” 8/13/25
Shafaq News, “Iraq’s IHEC disqualifies 253 contenders ahead of November vote," 8/17/25
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