Last 2 Iraqi Provinces Name Governors 8 Months After Elections

Taha of the PUK was recently elected governor of Kirkuk but that may be overturned

Iraq held provincial elections in December 2023 but it wasn’t until August that the last two local governments were named and one might still be up in the air.

New Provincial Govts In Iraq After Dec Election

 

Most of the new provincial governments in Iraq were decided in February. The Coordination Framework took most of the governors as expected because their main rival Muqtada al-Sadr boycotted. The list did not have its way however.

Coordination Framework Takes Over Maysan Govt From Sadr

Maysan in the south was one of the major contested provinces after December’s election. That was because it had been run by Sadr’s followers for years and the Coordination Framework wanted to put that to an end. The list was finally successful.

Coordination Framework Loses In 3 New Provincial Govts In Iraq

The Coordination Framework which runs the central government was hoping to take over most of the provinces after the December local elections. They have faced three early defeats however.

Sadrists And Asaib Ahl Al-Haq Return To Violence In Southern Iraq

(AFP)

The Sadrists and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq have a longtime rivalry which has heated up once again in southern Iraq. After the December 2023 provincial elections the two sides have resorted to violence in an attempt to assert their control.

Final Results For Iraq’s Provincial Elections

(Wikipedia)

The final results of Iraq’s provincial elections have been announced. The ruling Coordination Framework won the most seats and wants to control the south. That will put it into conflict with several governors that won the most votes in their governorates. On the other hand the Kurds misplayed their hand running separately because the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) wanted to dominate the community.

Coordination Framework May Not Get Full Control Of Iraq’s Southern Provinces As It Hoped

The Coordination Framework that already controls the central government was the largest winner in December’s provincial vote. That was to be expected as its main rival Moqtada al-Sadr called a boycott. It turns out the list may not run the south as it expected.

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.

Iraq’s Provincial Elections Marked By Lowest Voter Turnout Since 2003

(Reuters)a

On December 18 Iraq held its first provincial elections in ten years. It likely had the lowest voter turnout since elections started in 2005 due to a boycott by Moqtada al-Sadr and widespread apathy and distrust of the political system.

Special Voting For Iraq’s Provincial Elections Occur Amongst Continued Cheating

Members of the Iraqi Security Forces voting in the special elections (Al Rafidain)

On December 16 voting began in Iraq’s provincial elections. This was the special voting which is for the security forces (ISF) and displaced. Regular balloting will occur on December 18. The government claimed that turnout was very high with 67% participating but there are major questions about that.

Sadrists Attack Their Rivals Before Iraq’s Dec Election

(Bas News)

Iraq's provincial elections are just around the corner and things continue to deteriorate. The latest is the Sadrists attacking their political rivals.

Iraq’s Political Parties Cheating Again Before Dec Election

Next month Iraqis will vote for provincial councils. These are the first local elections since 2013. As in previous campaigns the ruling parties are cheating.

Sadr Calls For Boycott Of Iraq’s Dec Election

(AFP)

 

On November 13 Moqtada al-Sadr called on his followers to boycott the December provincial elections. The idea is that if his sizeable movement does not participate it will delegitimize the vote. That might lead to a delay in the balloting.

1/3 Of Iraqi Voters Excluded From 2023 Elections Largely Due To Sectarian Cleansing

(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

Al Mada reported that up to one-third of registered voters won’t be able to take part in Iraq’s December 2023 elections. That’s because the Election Commission refused to update its voter data. Since the Commission is controlled by the ruling parties this was likely done to reduce the number of ballots cast in the hopes that would ensure their victory.

Ruling Parties Seek To Control Iraq’s Election Comm Before Dec Vote

(Reuters)

Iraq’s next elections are set for December and there are already reports of the ruling parties attempting to fix the results to ensure their victory.

Coordination Framework Moves To Re-Write Iraq’s Election Rules

(The National)

On March 27 Iraq’s parliament voted to amend the Election Law and return to the old system of having each province be its own voting district. This overturned the 2021 amendment that broke up governorates into multiple districts which allowed the emergence of several new parties and led to large defeats for some of the more established ones.