MOQTADA AL SADR WINS IRAQ VOTE, FORMER PM MALIKI CLOSE BEHIND

Mon 11 October 2021:

According to preliminary data, officials, and a spokesperson for the Sadrist Movement, Shia Muslim cleric Moqtada al Sadr’s party was the biggest winner in an Iraqi election on Monday, boosting the number of seats he holds in parliament.

According to preliminary data, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appeared to have the second largest victory among Shi’ite parties.

The election was held several months ahead of schedule in reaction to huge protests in 2019 that ousted a government and revealed broad discontent with political elites who many Iraqis believe 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 preliminary results from many Iraqi provinces, as well as the capital Baghdad, corroborated by local government authorities, indicated that Sadr had won more than 70 seats, which, if confirmed, would give him influence in establishing a government.

According to a spokeswoman for Sadr’s office, there are 73 seats available. The same figure was published by local news outlets.

Sadr came top, according to an official from Iraq’s electoral commission, but he did not immediately clarify how many seats his party had gained.

Pro-reform candidates who emerged from the 2019 protests also earned numerous seats in the 329-member parliament, according to preliminary data.

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.

(with agency)

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