Iran-aligned parties unite to form largest Iraqi parliamentary bloc

Lengthy talks expected to assign key leadership positions

Iraq's pro-Iran Co-ordination Framework alliance says it has formed the largest bloc in the newly elected parliament. Photo: Iraqi News Agency

Iraq's pro-Iran Co-ordination Framework alliance says it has formed the largest bloc in the newly elected parliament and will nominate the country's next prime minister.

The announcement came after the country's electoral committee released the seat distribution from last week's parliamentary election, with Tehran-aligned parties maintaining their share of the 329-seat legislature.

The Co-ordination Framework “has signed off on forming the largest parliamentary bloc, which includes all of its entities”, the alliance said in a statement. It added that it has formed two committees. One is tasked with setting out the requirements of state administration and the other with selecting a prime minister.

Q&A replayThe National discusses Iraq election players and promises

Read More

After Iraq's 2021 ballot, the Co-ordination Framework, an alliance of the main Shiite parties, came together to form the majority bloc and brought incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani to power.

The electoral committee said on Monday that Mr Al Sudani's bloc had come first with 46 seats. It is unclear whether Mr Al Sudani, who is seeking a second term, will be chosen again.

Individual groups within the Co-ordination Framework also scored well, with some winning more seats than in the previous parliament. The State of Law Coalition, led by former prime minister Nouri Al Maliki, won 29 seats.

Al Sadiqoun List, which is linked to a US-sanctioned armed faction led by Shiite cleric Qais Al Khazali, won 27 seats, up from 15, while the pro-Iran Badr List secured 21 seats.

The Taqaddum Party, which draws support from Iraq's mainly Sunni west and north and is led by former parliament speaker Mohammed Al Halbousi, won 27 seats.

Despite receiving the second-highest number of votes in Iraq, with over one million, the Kurdistan Democratic Party was allocated the fifth-highest number of seats at 26. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan gained 15 seats. The new electoral system divided the Kurdistan region into four electoral districts instead of one, leading to the discrepancy between votes and seats.

Overall, voter turnout reached 56.11 per cent, according to the commission. Overall, 187 seats were allocated to Shiite blocs, 77 seats to Sunnis and 56 to the Kurds, while the remaining nine were reserved for minorities.

Post-election talks between Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish parties in Iraq usually last for months. By convention in Iraq, a Shiite Muslim holds the post of prime minister, a Sunni is parliament speaker, and the largely ceremonial presidency goes to a Kurd.

The main challenge for the next government will be addressing long-standing grievances over poor public services, corruption and unemployment – issues that have fuelled mass protests in recent years. The new administration will also need to maintain the delicate balance in ties between Iran and the US, the country's two main allies.