Iraq Elections 2025: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s coalition has emerged as the front-runner in Iraq’s 2025 general elections, according to early results. The coalition secured major wins in multiple provinces amid a voter turnout exceeding 56 percent. 


Iraq Elections 2025: Sudani Claims Victory as Iraq’s Parliamentary Polls Show Coalition Lead

Influential Iraqi Shi'ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr on Monday took to Twitter to announce his full withdrawal from political life. The move was surprising for many as his protesters have been blocking parliament for weeks now.

"I've decided not to meddle in political affairs. I, therefore, announce now my definitive retirement," read Sadr's tweet where he&nbsp;also announced that he was shutting his political offices and institutions in the country, following an unsalvagable&nbsp;political deadlock.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/XKAzl1O3OP">pic.twitter.com/XKAzl1O3OP</a>
— مقتدى السيد محمد الصدر (@Mu_AlSadr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mu_AlSadr/status/1564189498086506501?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

According to an AFP report, live fire rocked Baghdad's Green Zone area in the evening as&nbsp;Sadr's supporters stormed the area. Witnesses on the ground stated that the shots were fired by supporters of the rival Shi'ite bloc. Moreover, security forces also fired tear gas canisters to disperse the supporters of both groups.

Why the protest?

As reported extensively by WION,&nbsp;Sadr and his legion of supporters have been on the streets of Iraq, protesting for months and batting for the dissolution of the parliament.

Reportedly, in the October parliamentary election last year,&nbsp;Sadr’s supporters had won the most seats. However, they were unable to form a government and since then, the country has been in a deadlock.

Moreover,&nbsp;Sadr calling for the resignation en-masse of his parliamentary bloc has provided the initiative to his&nbsp;Iran-backed Shia opponents, the Coordination Framework Alliance.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dissolve-the-parliament-influential-shiite-leader-moqtada-sadr-calls-for-fresh-elections-in-iraq-503371">'Dissolve the parliament': Influential Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr calls for fresh elections in Iraq</a>

To correct the course, earlier this month,&nbsp;thousands of followers of Sadr stormed Baghdad's Green Zone. Meanwhile, another faction took over the parliament building to prevent his opponents from forming a government.&nbsp;

Sadr counts millions of Iraqis among his followers and has shown he can still stir up gatherings by hundreds of thousands of supporters, mostly working-class Shi'ite Muslims if he needs to exert political pressure.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sadr-followers-hold-mass-prayer-outside-iraqi-parliament-in-show-of-force-506311">Sadr followers hold mass prayer outside Iraqi parliament in show of force</a>

(This is a developing story. More updates to follow)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

Influential Iraqi Shi'ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr on Monday took to Twitter to announce his full withdrawal from political life. The move was surprising for many as his protesters have been blocking parliament for weeks now.

Influential Iraqi Shi'ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr on Monday took to Twitter to announce his full withdrawal from political life. The move was surprising for many as his protesters have been blocking parliament for weeks now. "I've decided not to meddle in political affairs. I, therefore, announce now my definitive retirement," read Sadr's tweet where he also announced that he was shutting his political offices and institutions in the country, following an unsalvagable political deadlock. pic.twitter.com/XKAzl1O3OP — مقتدى السيد محمد الصدر (@Mu_AlSadr) August 29, 2022 × According to an AFP report, live fire rocked Baghdad's Green Zone area in the evening as Sadr's supporters stormed the area. Witnesses on the ground stated that the shots were fired by supporters of the rival Shi'ite bloc. Moreover, security forces also fired tear gas canisters to disperse the supporters of both groups. Why the protest? As reported extensively by WION, Sadr and his legion of supporters have been on the streets of Iraq, protesting for months and batting for the dissolution of the parliament. Reportedly, in the October parliamentary election last year, Sadr’s supporters had won the most seats. However, they were unable to form a government and since then, the country has been in a deadlock. Moreover, Sadr calling for the resignation en-masse of his parliamentary bloc has provided the initiative to his Iran-backed Shia opponents, the Coordination Framework Alliance. Read more: 'Dissolve the parliament': Influential Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr calls for fresh elections in Iraq To correct the course, earlier this month, thousands of followers of Sadr stormed Baghdad's Green Zone. Meanwhile, another faction took over the parliament building to prevent his opponents from forming a government. Sadr counts millions of Iraqis among his followers and has shown he can still stir up gatherings by hundreds of thousands of supporters, mostly working-class Shi'ite Muslims if he needs to exert political pressure. Read more: Sadr followers hold mass prayer outside Iraqi parliament in show of force (This is a developing story. More updates to follow) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr says he's quitting politics in bombshell announcement

Shiite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr has emerged as the biggest winner of Iraq's parliamentary election. This was the 5th election since America overthrew Iraq's former dictator Saddam Hussein. But Iraqis say their lives have not changed since 2003. Most of them chose not to vote. WION's Palki Sharma has the details.

Gravitas | Iraq Polls: Shiite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr emerges as the biggest winner

Moqtada al-Sadr's party was the biggest winner in the&nbsp;Iraqi elections&nbsp;increasing the number of seats in parliament, according to initial results.

Former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki looked set to have the next largest win among Shi'ite parties, the initial results showed.

Iraq's Shi'ite groups have dominated governments and government formation since the US-led invasion of 2003 that toppled Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein and catapulted the Shi'ite majority and the Kurds to power.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/record-low-voter-turnout-mars-iraqi-parliamentary-elections-419864">Also Read:&nbsp;Record low voter turnout mars Iraqi parliamentary elections</a>

Sunday's election was held several months early, in response to mass protests in 2019 that toppled a government and showed widespread anger against political leaders whom many&nbsp;Iraqis say have enriched themselves at the expense of the country.

But a record low turnout suggested that an election billed as an opportunity to wrest control from the ruling elite would do little to dislodge sectarian religious parties in power since 2003.

A count based on initial results from several&nbsp;Iraqi provinces plus the capital Baghdad, verified by local government officials, suggested Sadr had won more than 70 seats, which if confirmed could give him considerable influence in forming a government.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraqis-to-elect-new-parliament-amid-deep-crisis-apathy-417813">Also Read:&nbsp;Iraqis to elect new parliament amid deep crisis, apathy</a>

A spokesperson for Sadr's office said the number was 73 seats. Local news outlets published the same figure.

An official at&nbsp;Iraq's electoral commission said Sadr had come first but did not immediately confirm how many seats his party had won.

The initial results also showed that pro-reform candidates who emerged from the 2019 protests had gained several seats in the 329-member parliament.

Iran-backed parties with links to militia groups accused of killing some of the nearly 600 people who died in the protests took a blow, winning less seats than in the last election in 2018, according to the initial results and local officials.

The unpredictable populist cleric has been a dominant figure and often kingmaker in&nbsp;Iraqi politics since the US&nbsp;invasion.&nbsp;He opposes all foreign interference in&nbsp;Iraq, whether by the United States, against which he fought an insurgency after 2003&nbsp;or by neighbouring Iran, which he has criticised for its close involvement in&nbsp;Iraqi politics.

Sadr, however, is regularly in Iran, according to officials close to him, and has called for the withdrawal of US&nbsp;troops from&nbsp;Iraq, where Washington maintains a force of around 2,500 in a continuing fight against Islamic State.

Elections in&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;since 2003 have been followed by protracted negotiations that can last months and serve to distribute government posts among the dominant parties.

The result on Monday is not expected to dramatically alter the balance of power in&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;or in the wider region.

Sunday's vote was held under a new law billed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi as a way to loosen the grip of established political parties and pave the way for independent, pro-reform candidates. Voting districts were made smaller, and the practice of awarding seats to lists of candidates sponsored by parties was abandoned.

But many&nbsp;Iraqis did not believe the system could be changed and chose not to vote.

The official turnout figure of just 41 per cent&nbsp;suggested the vote had failed to capture the imagination of the public, especially younger&nbsp;Iraqis who demonstrated in huge crowds two years ago.

"I did not vote. It's not worth it," Hussein Sabah, 20, told Reuters in&nbsp;Iraq's southern port Basra. "There is nothing that would benefit me or others. I see youth that have degrees with no jobs. Before the elections, (politicians) all came to them. After the elections, who knows?"

Kadhimi's predecessor Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned after security forces and gunmen killed hundreds of protesters in 2019 in a crackdown on demonstrations. The new prime minister called the vote months early to show that the government was responding to demands for more accountability.

In practice, powerful parties proved best able to mobilise supporters and candidates effectively, even under the new rules.

Iraq&nbsp;has held five parliamentary elections since the fall of Saddam. Rampant sectarian violence unleashed during the U.S. occupation has abated, and Islamic State fighters who seized a third of the country in 2014 were defeated in 2017.

But many&nbsp;Iraqis say their lives have yet to improve. Infrastructure lies in disrepair and healthcare, education and electricity are inadequate.

Moqtada al-Sadr's party was the biggest winner in the Iraqi elections increasing the number of seats in parliament, according to initial results. Former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki looked set to have the next largest win among Shi'ite parties, the initial results showed.

Moqtada al-Sadr's party was the biggest winner in the Iraqi elections increasing the number of seats in parliament, according to initial results. Former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki looked set to have the next largest win among Shi'ite parties, the initial results showed. Iraq's Shi'ite groups have dominated governments and government formation since the US-led invasion of 2003 that toppled Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein and catapulted the Shi'ite majority and the Kurds to power. Also Read: Record low voter turnout mars Iraqi parliamentary elections Sunday's election was held several months early, in response to mass protests in 2019 that toppled a government and showed widespread anger against political leaders whom many Iraqis say have enriched themselves at the expense of the country. But a record low turnout suggested that an election billed as an opportunity to wrest control from the ruling elite would do little to dislodge sectarian religious parties in power since 2003. A count based on initial results from several Iraqi provinces plus the capital Baghdad, verified by local government officials, suggested Sadr had won more than 70 seats, which if confirmed could give him considerable influence in forming a government. Also Read: Iraqis to elect new parliament amid deep crisis, apathy A spokesperson for Sadr's office said the number was 73 seats. Local news outlets published the same figure. An official at Iraq's electoral commission said Sadr had come first but did not immediately confirm how many seats his party had won. The initial results also showed that pro-reform candidates who emerged from the 2019 protests had gained several seats in the 329-member parliament. Iran-backed parties with links to militia groups accused of killing some of the nearly 600 people who died in the protests took a blow, winning less seats than in the last election in 2018, according to the initial results and local officials. The unpredictable populist cleric has been a dominant figure and often kingmaker in Iraqi politics since the US invasion. He opposes all foreign interference in Iraq, whether by the United States, against which he fought an insurgency after 2003 or by neighbouring Iran, which he has criticised for its close involvement in Iraqi politics. Sadr, however, is regularly in Iran, according to officials close to him, and has called for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, where Washington maintains a force of around 2,500 in a continuing fight against Islamic State. Elections in Iraq since 2003 have been followed by protracted negotiations that can last months and serve to distribute government posts among the dominant parties. The result on Monday is not expected to dramatically alter the balance of power in Iraq or in the wider region. Sunday's vote was held under a new law billed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi as a way to loosen the grip of established political parties and pave the way for independent, pro-reform candidates. Voting districts were made smaller, and the practice of awarding seats to lists of candidates sponsored by parties was abandoned. But many Iraqis did not believe the system could be changed and chose not to vote. The official turnout figure of just 41 per cent suggested the vote had failed to capture the imagination of the public, especially younger Iraqis who demonstrated in huge crowds two years ago. "I did not vote. It's not worth it," Hussein Sabah, 20, told Reuters in Iraq's southern port Basra. "There is nothing that would benefit me or others. I see youth that have degrees with no jobs. Before the elections, (politicians) all came to them. After the elections, who knows?" Kadhimi's predecessor Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned after security forces and gunmen killed hundreds of protesters in 2019 in a crackdown on demonstrations. The new prime minister called the vote months early to show that the government was responding to demands for more accountability. In practice, powerful parties proved best able to mobilise supporters and candidates effectively, even under the new rules. Iraq has held five parliamentary elections since the fall of Saddam. Rampant sectarian violence unleashed during the U.S. occupation has abated, and Islamic State fighters who seized a third of the country in 2014 were defeated in 2017. But many Iraqis say their lives have yet to improve. Infrastructure lies in disrepair and healthcare, education and electricity are inadequate.

Moqtada al-Sadr's party claims largest seats in initial Iraq poll results

Iraq is set to hold an early election billed as a concession to anti-government protests, but expected to be boycotted by many voters who distrust official promises of reform. Watch this report for more details.

Iraqis head to polls for early election shunned by activists

The European Union's first ever election observation mission in Iraq will deploy 80 people to follow early parliamentary polls next month, the group's head Viola von Cramon said Thursday.

"I strongly encourage everyone to make sure this is a peaceful process," von Cramon told reporters in Baghdad, adding that "violence and intimidation have no place in elections".

Bringing forward the elections was one of the only concessions made by the government in the face of mass demonstrations that broke out in late 2019 against endemic corruption and administrative breakdown.

Dozens of demonstrators have been kidnapped, murdered or targeted in attacks over the past two years.

Although nobody has claimed responsibility for the violence, activists blame Shiite militias, a rising force often funded by Iran.

Ahead of the polls, "any violence will only interfere and would finally prevent voters casting their votes," said von Cramon, herself a member of the European Parliament for Germany's Greens party.

Authorities must "ensure that all candidates, and particularly female candidates, political activists, journalists, human rights defenders and the electorate can fully exercise their democratic rights and freedoms," she added.

Nevertheless, calls to boycott the ballot box have grown in recent months, especially from disillusioned young Iraqis who accuse the parties of intimidation on top of vote-buying and cronyism.

Almost 25 million people are on the electoral roll for the October 10 vote to pick 329 MPs.

Human Rights Watch said that there were "significant obstacles" to Iraq's hundreds of thousands of disabled people voting "due to discriminatory legislation and inaccessible polling places".

Most polling stations are in school buildings without easy access for less mobile people, it highlighted.

The European Union's first ever election observation mission in Iraq will deploy 80 people to follow early parliamentary polls next month, the group's head Viola von Cramon said Thursday.

The European Union's first ever election observation mission in Iraq will deploy 80 people to follow early parliamentary polls next month, the group's head Viola von Cramon said Thursday. "I strongly encourage everyone to make sure this is a peaceful process," von Cramon told reporters in Baghdad, adding that "violence and intimidation have no place in elections". Bringing forward the elections was one of the only concessions made by the government in the face of mass demonstrations that broke out in late 2019 against endemic corruption and administrative breakdown. Dozens of demonstrators have been kidnapped, murdered or targeted in attacks over the past two years. Although nobody has claimed responsibility for the violence, activists blame Shiite militias, a rising force often funded by Iran. Ahead of the polls, "any violence will only interfere and would finally prevent voters casting their votes," said von Cramon, herself a member of the European Parliament for Germany's Greens party. Authorities must "ensure that all candidates, and particularly female candidates, political activists, journalists, human rights defenders and the electorate can fully exercise their democratic rights and freedoms," she added. Nevertheless, calls to boycott the ballot box have grown in recent months, especially from disillusioned young Iraqis who accuse the parties of intimidation on top of vote-buying and cronyism. Almost 25 million people are on the electoral roll for the October 10 vote to pick 329 MPs. Human Rights Watch said that there were "significant obstacles" to Iraq's hundreds of thousands of disabled people voting "due to discriminatory legislation and inaccessible polling places". Most polling stations are in school buildings without easy access for less mobile people, it highlighted.

EU observers call for 'peaceful' Iraq vote

Iraqi authorities have beefed up intelligence operations and are planning to use drones for aerial surveillance as the country prepares to hold national elections.

Voters will head to the polls this weekend for the first time since the government declared victory against the Islamic State group (IS), in national elections that could tilt the balance of power between the United States and Iran.

Authorities deployed troops and reinforced check points in the Iraqi capital.

Nearly 7,000 candidates will vie for 329 seats in the May 12 parliamentary elections, the fourth since the 2003 US-led invasion.

Authorities deployed troops and reinforced check points in the Iraqi capital.

Iraqi authorities have beefed up intelligence operations and are planning to use drones for aerial surveillance as the country prepares to hold national elections. Voters will head to the polls this weekend for the first time since the government declared victory against the Islamic State group (IS), in national elections that could tilt the balance of power between the United States and Iran. Authorities deployed troops and reinforced check points in the Iraqi capital. Nearly 7,000 candidates will vie for 329 seats in the May 12 parliamentary elections, the fourth since the 2003 US-led invasion.

Iraqi authorities step up security ahead of elections

iraq-elections

Iraq Elections, News on Iraq Elections, stories on Iraq Elections, articles on Iraq Elections, Iraq Elections stories at Wion, Iraq Elections news, Iraq Elections latest news

iraq elections