Security officials and electoral sources report that Haider al-Abadi's list, the Prime Minister of Iraq, is in the lead in the country's parliamentary elections. According to Reuters, the list of Muqtada al-Sadr, an influential Shia cleric, is in second place. This information comes from preliminary and unofficial election results, while the official results of the Iraqi elections have not yet been announced. On Saturday, the people of Iraq voted for the first time after the defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS) militants, and results are expected to be announced on Monday. The Iraqi Electoral Commission has stated that 92% of the votes have been counted, and voter turnout in this election is significantly lower than in previous elections. The main rivals of Haider al-Abadi, who is considered both an ally of Iran and the United States, besides Muqtada al-Sadr, include Nouri al-Maliki, the former Prime Minister of Iraq, and Hadi al-Amiri, the leader of the main Shia group in the Iraqi parliament. According to these unofficial results, Muqtada al-Sadr, who led a violent uprising against U.S. forces from 2003 to 2011 in Iraq, has performed well in the southern provinces. If the results remain the same and al-Sadr's supporters stay in second place, this would be an unexpected comeback for the cleric, who has many supporters among the youth and the poor and advocates for distancing from Iran. Muqtada al-Sadr has succeeded in pressuring the government through an alliance with communists and other secular Iraqi groups, intending to overthrow it under the pretext of fighting corruption. According to Reuters, this cleric owes his power and influence to his family, including his father, Ayatollah Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr, and his father's cousin, Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr. The future Prime Minister of Iraq, considering Donald Trump's withdrawal from the JCPOA and the close relationship between Iran and Iraq, will have to navigate this issue, which has worried many Iraqis due to fears of Baghdad being drawn into conflict between Iran and the U.S. If Abadi wins the election, he will be retained in his current position but will face pressure from the U.S. due to Iran's influence in Iraq. He is described by many Iraqis as ineffective and unattractive, having only had the upper hand in this election due to the defeat of ISIS during his premiership, which was simultaneously supported by both Iran and the U.S. He will also be responsible for negotiating the formation of the coalition government that must be established within 90 days after the elections.
Preliminary Results of Iraq Elections Indicate 'Lead' for Haider al-Abadi's List
Preliminary results from Iraq's parliamentary elections show Haider al-Abadi's list leading, with Muqtada al-Sadr's list in second place. This election marks the first since the defeat of ISIS, and lower voter turnout raises concerns about political engagement. The outcome will significantly impact Iraq's relations with Iran and the U.S.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Preliminary results from Iraq's parliamentary elections indicate that Haider al-Abadi's list is leading, with Muqtada al-Sadr's list in second place. This election is significant as it is the first since the defeat of ISIS, but voter turnout is notably lower than in previous elections.
- 92% of the votes have been counted according to the Iraqi Electoral Commission.
- This election marks the first parliamentary vote since the defeat of ISIS militants.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iraq has faced significant turmoil since the U.S. invasion in 2003, with various factions vying for power, particularly among Shia groups. The defeat of ISIS has created a new political context for these elections.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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