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Iraq Election Draws 55% Turnout as Al‑Sudani’s Alliance Leads, Coalition Talks Loom

The outcome now triggers protracted coalition bargaining under a sectarian quota system that will determine the next government.

Overview

  • Election officials reported turnout just over 55%, a sharp rise from the 41% recorded in 2021.
  • Party sources say Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani’s list won about 50 of 329 seats, positioning it as the largest bloc pending official tallies.
  • Final results and seat allocations are being finalized, and government formation is expected to take weeks or months under power‑sharing rules.
  • Cleric Muqtada al‑Sadr called for a boycott, yet officials say more than 12 million of over 21 million eligible voters cast ballots.
  • The campaign period saw a candidate killed by a car bomb and deadly clashes in Kirkuk, while election day was largely calm under the watch of more than 300 international observers.