Iraq - December 2023
Iraq holds first local elections in a decade
On 18 December, Iraq conducted its first set of provincial elections since 2013. The Independent High Electoral Commission announced the preliminary results, with a turnout of 41 per cent despite a boycott by influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The ruling Shia Coordination Framework emerged as a major victor, securing 101 out of the 285 available seats. In terms of regional participation, Kirkuk had the highest participation at 66 per cent, where Kurdish candidates won the majority seats. In Baghdad, the coalition led by former Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi secured the most votes, followed by a coalition of Iran-backed Shiite parties. Despite minor incidents including the detonation of a stun grenade at a polling station in Najaf and a helicopter crash near Kirkuk (causing one fatality and one injury), the elections were largely peaceful. Women constituted 28 per cent of the candidates and secured 75 seats in the provincial council elections.
Sources: Rudaw, The New Arab, Al Jazeera, Independent High Electoral Commission, Associated Press, French Research Center on Iraq
