Iraq

Council of Representatives of Iraq

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
Yes
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Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s)
10 Oct 2021
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
No information available
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections
31 Oct 2025
Number of seats at stake
329
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Results

About the election

The Sadrist Bloc, led by Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, came first in early elections (see note 1) to the 329-member Council of Representatives. It won nearly double the number of seats compared to the National Progress Alliance (Taqadum) led by Speaker Mohammed Rican El-Halbousi. Only two other parties won more than 30 seats: the State of Law coalition, led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), led by former Kurdish Regional Government President Masoud Barzani. The Kurdistan Alliance, which comprises the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Change Movement (Gorran), won 17 seats. In all, 95 women were elected, up from 83 in the 2018 elections (see note 2).

The Coordination Framework (see note 3) rejected the initial results as fabricated”. The Framework’s supporters staged protests and sit-ins, demanding a complete manual recount of votes. The Independent High Election Commission (IHEC) finished a manual recount on 8 November. On 30 November, it announced the final results, confirming the Sadrist bloc’s lead. Meanwhile, on 8 November, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi survived a drone attack on his home inside Baghdad's high-security Green Zone.

On 27 December, the Federal Supreme Court ratified the election results. On 9 January 2022, the newly elected legislature held its first session and re-elected Mr. El-Halbousi as its Speaker (see note 4). The Speaker subsequently set the date of the indirect presidential election for 7 February. However, most parliamentary factions boycotted the 7 February session, which was postponed indefinitely.

On 13 October 2022, after a year of stalemate over the formation of the new government, the Council of Representatives elected Mr. Latif Rashid as the new President of the Republic. He then appointed Mr. Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani (Coordination Framework) as Prime Minister. On 27 October, the Council of Representatives approved the Cabinet led by Mr. al-Sudani.

Note 1:

The early elections in 2021 followed political turmoil in the country. Elections were constitutionally due by 2022, but were moved to 2021 after protests that had begun in October 2019. Protesters demanded better public services, more jobs and an end to corruption. On 31 October 2019, President Barham Salih (PUK) promised electoral reforms, but protests continued. On 30 November 2019, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned. After two prime ministers-designate failed to form a new Cabinet, Mr. Mustafa al-Kadhimi was elected Prime Minister on 7 May 2020. On 31 July 2020, the new Prime Minister called early elections for 6 June 2021. However, the Independent High Election Commission (IHEC) requested more time to organize the polls. On 19 January 2021, the Government approved IHEC’s request and postponed the elections to 10 October. Some protesters called for an election boycott while others participated.

Note 2:

In accordance with Article 49 (4) of the Constitution, a quarter of the seats in the 329-member Council of Representatives (i.e., 83 seats) are reserved for women. The 2021 elections were held under the Single Non-Transferable Vote system (instead of list-based proportional representation) in accordance with the new electoral law adopted by Parliament on 24 December 2019. In 2021, 83 electoral constituencies were used, with one seat per constituency reserved for female candidates. As in previous elections, nine other seats were reserved for minority groups (five for Christians, and one each for the Fayli Kurds, Sabeans, Shabaks and Yizidis). The new electoral law also lowered the minimum eligibility age from 30 to 28.

Note 3:

The Coordination Framework is a coalition comprising Shia parties and blocs as well as some Iran-backed groups. They include the Fatah Alliance (or Al-Fatih, led by Mr. Hadi al-Amiri, which represents the paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces) and the State of Law coalition.

Note 4:

During the first session, squabbles erupted between rival parties. The oldest MP Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, who was presiding at the session, was hospitalized over reported injuries and fainting. The session was then run by the second oldest MP, Khaled al-Darraji. The former Speaker Mohammed El-Halbousi (whose term had ended at the October 2021 elections) was re-elected as Speaker. However, some MPs argued that the parliamentary session was unconstitutional, and contested the election of the Speaker and his deputies.

On 13 January 2022, the Federal Supreme Court issued a decision to temporarily suspend the work of the Speaker and his two deputies. On 25 January, the Court rejected the petitions, thereby confirming the re-election of Mr. El-Halbousi as Speaker. Shortly after the Court’s ruling, the Speaker’s house in the western province of Anbar was attacked with four rockets. Two children were injured. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Speaker’s Taqadum party subsequently joined Al-Siyada (Sovereignty), a coalition led by Mr. Khamis al-Khanjar of the Azm al Iraq Alliance (Azm). The coalition comprises 67 members and is the largest Sunni bloc in the new legislature.

Number of parties winning seats
33
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
22.2%

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group Total
Sadrist Bloc 73
National Progress Alliance / Taqadum 37
State of Law Coalition 33
Kurdistan Democratic Party 31
Fatah Alliance 17
Kurdistan Alliance 17
Azm Al Iraq Alliance / Azm 14
New Generation Movement 14
Ishraqat Kanoon 6
Tasmim Alliance 5
Babylon Movement 4
Imtidad Movement 4
National Contract Alliance 4
National State Forces Alliance 4
Hasm Movement for Reform 3
Our People's Identity Alliance (Jamahiruna Hawuyatuna Alliance) 3
Ahali Wasit Independent Group 1
Al Foraten Party 1
Al Jamahir Al Wattaniya 1
Al Wafaa and Al Taghir Bloc 1
Al Watan Party 1
Arab Alliance of Kirkuk 1
Biladi Movement 1
Iqtadar Watan Group 1
Iraqi National Project 1
Kurdistan Justice Group / Iraq 1
National Approach Alliance 1
National Hope Alliance 1
National Product 1
National Sanad Group 1
Rights Movement 1
United Iraqi Turkmen Front 1
Yazidi Progress Party 1
Independents 43
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
324
Number of women elected
95

Notes:

In December 2021, parliament reported that 98 women had been elected (out of 329 members). The statistics were retrospectively added to the Women’s Ranking of November 2021.

In January 2022, parliament updated the number of women to 95 out of 329 members. The Women’s Ranking of November 2021 was retrospectively updated.

Percentage of women elected
22.7%
Women Directly Elected
95
Other notes on the elections

Note on the number of candidates:

Unofficial figures show there were a total of 3,249 candidates for the 2021 elections. The gender breakdown is not available. In all, 951 women candidates competed for the 83 reserved seats.

Note on the number of parties contesting the election:

At least 167 parties fielded candidates in the 2021 elections.

Sources

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
324
Total number of women after the election
95
Percentage of women after the election
22.7%
First-term parliamentarians
No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
No information available
Date of the first session
09 Jan 2022

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Mohammed Rican El-Halbousi (Male)
Date of birth: 1981
Political party
National Progress Alliance / Taqadum
Date of election
09 Jan 2022

Historical data for IPU membership

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Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No