Iraqi prime minister’s coalition leads in Baghdad elections

BAGHDAD, Iraq (MNTV) — Preliminary results indicate that the Reconstruction & Development Coalition headed by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani secured first place in Baghdad in the 11 November parliamentary elections, according to two independent election‑commission sources.

Authorities reported voter turnout at 56.11%, sharply higher than the 41% registered in the 2021 vote.

The coalition’s performance in Baghdad — the largest constituency with 69 of the 329 seats — gives it a key advantage in the complex process of forming a new government.

Mr al‑Sudani said his list’s success reflects voters’ desire for “reconstruction and development” after years of corruption and weak public services. Analysts note, however, that no party is expected to win an outright majority, meaning months of coalition talks lie ahead.

The elections came amid widespread skepticism, with many Iraqis seeing the vote as a mechanism for elite power‑sharing rather than genuine reform.

Key rivals include the Progress Party of former Parliament Speaker Mohammed al‑Halbousi and the State of Law Coalition led by ex‑Prime Minister Nouri al‑Maliki, which reportedly came second and third respectively.

In the Kurdistan region, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) claimed victory in its strongholds of Erbil and Duhok, while the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) ranked first in Sulaymaniyah, underscoring the country’s ethnic and regional voting divides.

Political analysts warn that despite the smooth polls, the underlying power‑sharing system remains intact, meaning the next government will face familiar challenges: budget shortfalls, factional rivalries, and contested influence between Tehran and Washington.