Seat Allocation Announced For Iraq’s New Parliament

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Iraq’s Election Commission announced the seat allocation amongst the winning lists. The previous results, which just covered which parties won in each province did not include the early votes case by the Iraqi Security Forces. Moqtada al-Sadr’s alliance with the Communists Sairoon remained in first place with 54 seats. It was followed by the pro-Iran Hashd Fatah with 47 seats, and Prime Minister Haidar Abadi’s Nasr with 42 seats. Vice President Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law moved up. Previously its best finish was 3^rd in Baghdad. The extra votes moved it into fourth overall with 26 seats. The Kurdish vote was divide this year. The Kurdistan Democratic Party got the most seats with 25, followed by 18 for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, 5 for Gorran, 2 each for the Coalition for Democracy and Justice, the Kurdistan Islamic Union, the Kurdistan Islamic Group, and the New Generation. After the disastrous independence referendum, the KDP and PUK are attempting to rejoin national politics. The other major lists were Vice President Iyad Allawi’s Wataniya that got 21 seats, Ammar Hakim’s Hikma with 19, and Vice President Osama Nujafi’s Qarar with 13. The final results have still not been certified as there will likely be court cases against the results. The Kurdish opposition, Arabs and Turkmen are all accusing the PUK of cheating in Kirkuk for example. Some other parties are threatening lawsuits as well in other provinces.

The early stages of creating a majority to form the new government are already underway. The most likely alignment is Sadr’s Sairoon (54 seats), PM Abadi’s Nasr (42 seats), Hakim’s Hikma (19 seats), and perhaps VP Allawi’s Wataniya (21 seats) and the KDP (25 seats). 165 seats are necessary. Sadr has already met Hakim and Abadi, and called Allawi. While the later visited former Kurdish President Massoud Barzani. If they all agree the next big question would be whether they go on to make Iraq’s first majority government or bring in the other parties for another national unity government. If Sadr is serious about ending ethnosectarian quotas in the government only including those closest to Sairoon would be an important step. Another major issue is if Abadi will hold onto his job or whether a new premier will be named. Iranian Quds Force commander General Qasim Suleimani has been in Baghdad since the election, and there are various reports that he is trying to stop Sadr from putting together the next administration. Things are just beginning so there could still be twists and turns before there is a new prime minister.

2018 Election Winners By Seats

Sairoon 54 seats

Fatah 47 seats

Nasr 42 seats

State of Law 26 seats

KDP 25 seats

Wataniya 21 seats

Hikma 19 seats

PUK 18 seats

Qarar 13 seats

Anbar Is Our Identity 6 seats

Gorran 5 seats

Baghdad Coalition 4 seats 
New Generation 4 seats 

Arab Coalition 3 seats

Iradah 3 seats

Ninewa Is Our Identity 3 seats

Qalat Jamahir Wataniya 3 seats

Turkmen Front 3 seats

Abirun 2 seats

Bairaq al-Khair 2 seats

Coalition for Democracy and Justice 2 seats

Competencies for Change 2 seats

Democratic Approach 2 seats

Kurdistan Islamic Union 2 seats

Kurdistan Islamic Group 2 seats

National Party 2 seats

Tamadin 2 seats

Babylon Movement 1 seat

Faily Kurds 1 seat

Independent 1 seat

Kurdistan National Council 1 seat

Men of Iraq 1 seat

Salahaddin Is Our Identity 1 seat

Tamadun 1 seat
Civil Part 1 seat
Civil Democratic Party 1 seat

2018 Election Winners By Province

Anbar

Anbar Is Our Identity 6 seats

Wataniya 3 seats

Nasr 2 seats

Abirun 2 seats

Qarar 2 seats

Babil

Fatah 4 seats

Sairoon 4 seats

Nasr 3 seats

Hikma 3 seats

State of Law 3 seats

Competencies For Change 1 seat

Baghdad

Sairoon 17 seats

Fatah 9 seats

State of Law 9 seats

Wataniya 8 seats

Nasr 8 seats

Hikma 4 seats
Qarar 4 seats
Baghad Coalition 4 seats 

Bairaq al-Khair 2 seats

Tamadin 1 seat

Iradah 1 seat
Civil Party 1 seat
Civil Democratic Party 1 seat

Basra

Fatah 6 seats

Sairoon 5 seats

Nasr 5 seats

State of Law 4 seats

Hikma 2 seats

Wataniya 1 seat

Iradah 1 seat

Men Of Iraq 1 seat

Dhi Qar

Sairoon 6 seats

Fatah 5 seats

State of Law 3 seats

Nasr 3 seats

Hikma 2 seats

Diyala

Wataniya 3 seats

Fatah 3 seats

Qarar 3 seats

Sairoon 2 seats

Nasr 1 seat

PUK 1 seat

Hikma 1 seat

Dohuk

KDP 10 seats

Kurdistan Islamic Union 1 seat

Irbil

KDP 8 seats

PUK 2 seats

New Generation 2 seats

Kurdistan Islamic Group (Komal) 1 seat

Democracy and Justice 1 seat

Change 1 seat

Karbala

Fatah 3 seats

Sairoon 3 seats

Nasr 2 seats

State of Law 2 seats

Hikma 1 seat

Kirkuk

PUK 6 seats

Arab Coalition 3 seats

Turkmen Front 3 seats

Maysan

Sairoon 5 seats

Fatah 2 seats

Hikma 1 seat

State of Law 1 seat

Nasr 1 seat

Muthanna

Sairoon 2 seats

Fatah 2 seats

State of Law 1 seat

Nasr 1 seat

Hikma 1 seat

Najaf

Sairoon 4 seats

Fatah 3 seats

Nasr 3 seats

Hikma 1 seat

State of Law 1 seat

Ninewa

Nasr 7 seats

KDP 6 seats

Wataniya 4 seats

Ninewa Is Our Identity 3 seats

Fatah 3 seats

Qarar 3 seats

National Party 2 seats

Democratic Approach 2 seats
PUK 1 seat

Kurdistan National Council 1 seat

Independent 1 seat

Babylon Movement 1 seat

Tamadin 1 seat

Qadisiyah

Fatah 3 seats

Sairoon 3 seats

Nasr 2 seats

State of Law 1 seat

Hikma 1 seat

Iradah 1 seat

Salahaddin

Qalat Jamahir Wataniya 3 seats

Fatah 2 seats

Wataniya 2 seats

Nasr 2 seats

Qarar 2 seats

Salahaddin Is Our Identity 1 seat
Civil Party 1 seat

Sulaymaniya

PUK 8 seats

Change 4 seats

New Generation 2 seats

KDP 1 seat

Kurdistan Islamic Group (Komal) 1 seat

Democracy and Justice 1 seat

Kurdistan Islamic Union 1 seat

Wasit

Sairoon 3 seats

Fatah 2 seats

Nasr 2 seats

Hikma 2 seats

State of Law 1 seat

Competencies For Change 1 seat

Faily Kurds 1 seat

SOURCES

Ali, Sangar, “Iraq announces final election results; KDP leads in Kurdistan,” Kurdistan 24, 5/18/18

Baghdad Post, “Sadr discusses with Allawi developments of political process,” 5/17/18

- “UPDATE: Official results of Iraq parliamentary elections as we get them,” 5/19/18

Bas News, “Barzani, Wataniya Coalition Leader Discussing Next Government Formation,” 5/19/18

Coles, Isabel and Nabhan, Ali, “Questions Mount About Possible Fraud in Iraq Vote,” Wall Street Journal, 5/17/18

Al Mada, “A possible scenario to form the largest parliamentary bloc including Nasr, Kurdish parties and others,” 5/19/18

Al Maalomah, “Mr Sadr after his meeting with Hakim: We are coming to a new stage of technocrats to build Iraq,” 5/17/18

NINA, “Final Results….Sa’iroon Alliance Comes First With 54, Followed By Al-Fatah Second And Nasr (victory) Third,” 5/19/18

Shafaaq News, “Abadi announced an understanding with Sadr to form a government and reveal its features,” 5/20/18

Sotaliraq, “Sadr is facing complex process in forming government and is not far from repeating Allawi’s scenario,” 5/17/18

- “UNHCR announces final results of Iraqi parliamentary elections,” 5/18/18