Iraq’s election result ratified Supreme Federal Court as premiership remains up for grabs | World News

Voters gather to cast their vote at a ballot station in the country’s parliamentary election in Najaf, Iraq. (AP Photo/ File)

The result of last month’s parliamentary elections in Iraq was ratified the Supreme Federal Court on Sunday, confirming that the party of caretaker prime miner Mohammed Shia al-Sudani won the largest number of seats — but not enough to assure him a second term.

The court confirmed that the voting process met all constitutional and legal requirements and had no irregularities affecting its validity.

The Independent High Electoral Commission submitted the final results of the legislative elections to the Supreme Federal Court on Monday for official certification after resolving 853 complaints submitted regarding the election results.

Al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition won 46 seats in the 329-seat parliament. However, in past elections in Iraq, the bloc taking the largest number of seats has often been unable to impose its preferred candidate.

The coalition led former Prime Miner Nouri al-Maliki won 29 seats, the Sadiqoun Bloc, which is led the leader of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, Qais al-Khazali, won 28 seats, and the Kurdan Democratic Party, led Masoud Barzani, one of the two main Kurdish parties in the country, won 27 seats.Story continues below this ad

The Taqaddum (Progress) party of ousted former Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi also won 27 seats, setting the stage for a contest over the speaker’s role.

convention, the prime miner of Iraq is always Shiite, the president a Kurd, and the parliament speaker Sunni.

Overall, Shiite alliances and ls secured 187 seats, Sunni groups 77 seats, Kurdish groups 56 seats, in addition to 9 seats reserved for members of minority groups.

Al-Sudani came to power in 2022 with the backing of the Coordination Framework, a coalition of Iran-backed Shiite parties, but it is not clear whether the coalition will align behind him a second time.Story continues below this ad

With no single bloc able to form a government alone, political leaders have launched negotiations to build a ruling coalition.