Iraq's November elections: Top leaders' return sparks intense contest
Shafaq News/ Iraq's next parliamentary election is shaping up to be among the most competitive in years, particularly in Baghdad, independent lawmaker Hussein al-Saabri said on Thursday.
Speaking to Shafaq News, al-Saabri noted that several prominent political figures are joining candidate lists, pointing to a sharp increase in electoral rivalry. He also warned that the campaign period is likely to witness heavy spending, use of state resources, and a rise in influence and favoritism in the management of the electoral process.
'There will be unprecedented pressure on institutions, and public resources are already being channeled toward early campaigning…This will make fair competition much harder to achieve.'
Several high-profile leaders—some of whom had abstained from running directly in the past two election cycles—are now preparing to stand as candidates, aiming to expand their popular base and position themselves for influence in the next parliament.
Among those entering the race are State of Law Coalition (Dawlat al-Qanoon) leader and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki; Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, representing the Euphrates Movement (al-Furatin); Badr Organization chief Hadi al-Amiri; Taqaddum Party head and former Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi; and National Foundation Alliance (al-Asas al-Watani) leader Mohsen al-Mandalawi.
'The return of top-tier figures reflects a calculated move to shape the next phase of governance,' al-Saabri observed.
In early April, the Iraqi cabinet approved November 11, 2025, as the date for the parliamentary vote. The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) also estimated that around 30 million Iraqis will be eligible to cast their ballots.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Al-Hol exodus: +830 Iraqis return home in 11th 2025 convoy
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, 223 Iraqi families left Syria's Al-Hol camp in Al-Hasakah province returning to Iraq under heavy security provided by the US-led Global Coalition. The Head of the Departure Office at Al-Hol, Shukri Al-Hajji, told Shafaq News that this is the 11th repatriation operation since the beginning of 2025 and the 26th overall. The current convoy includes 832 individuals. The repatriation is coordinated between the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the Iraqi government. Iraqi families who expressed a desire to return are gradually being evacuated in organized groups. In a previous round last month, 241 families—comprising 865 individuals—were returned to Iraq in a similar operation. The Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement Spokesperson Ali Abbas Jahangir told Shafaq News earlier that over 15,000 individuals have been transferred from Al-Hol to Iraq since repatriation efforts began, adding, 'More than 12,600 persons remain in the camp, awaiting relocation in future batches.' Iraq launched the repatriation program in 2021. Returnees are received at the Jadaa camp in Nineveh, where they undergo social and psychological rehabilitation. The effort, however, continues to face backlash from local communities—especially families of ISIS victims in Nineveh—who express concern over the reintegration of returnees into their hometowns.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan salary dispute: US, Shiite leaders step in amid Kurdish boycott threats
Shafaq News/ Tensions over delayed salary payments in the Kurdistan Region have escalated, drawing in Iraq's Shiite leadership and the United States, as Kurdish parties weigh suspending or withdrawing from the political process in protest against Baghdad's financial policies. On Facebook, Ali Hama Saleh, leader of the Kurdish Position Trend (Tayyar al-Mawqif), disclosed Saturday that Fatah Alliance Head Hadi al-Amiri is planning a visit to Erbil to mediate the dispute between the Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional governments. 'US officials are also urging both sides to resolve the impasse through dialogue,' he added. The negotiations will reportedly center on two key issues: Baghdad's freeze on May salaries for public employees in the Kurdistan Region, and the broader standoff over oil revenues and Erbil's budget share. A senior political source told Shafaq News that top Kurdish leaders are seriously considering a parliamentary boycott or full withdrawal, depending on whether Baghdad lifts what officials describe as 'sustained financial and political pressure.' 'This is a response to the Iraqi Finance Ministry's move to block salary disbursements,' the source confirmed, explaining that a high-level meeting in Erbil, led by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), reviewed these potential measures to align Kurdish factions on a unified strategy. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani had reportedly offered, according to a source, to release the funds, but only as a temporary loan and contingent on forming a joint committee with Erbil to address the backlog before Eid al-Adha. While Baghdad claims the freeze stems from the Region exceeding its budget allocation and 'failing' to transfer oil and non-oil revenues, Kurdish officials reject the charges, arguing the move violates Federal Supreme Court rulings mandating unconditional salary payments to public employees.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iraqi PMF leaders urge neutrality as election tensions rise
Shafaq News/ As Iraq prepares for its parliamentary elections on November 11, tensions are mounting within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), with senior leaders urging fighters to remain neutral and resist political pressures. On Saturday, Hamid al-Yasiri, commander of the PMF's 'Ansar al-Marjaiya' brigade, called on all PMF members to avoid involvement in electoral rivalries and to maintain loyalty to the religious fatwa* of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. 'We hear of ongoing conflicts and defamation campaigns within the PMF ranks,' al-Yasiri said. 'You are followers of the fatwa—your commitment lies with it alone, not with any political party." Al-Yasiri warned that political entanglement would undermine the PMF's credibility and diminish the respect earned through sacrifices on the battlefield. 'You are not brokers for electoral blocs, and you must not yield to any political pressure, regardless of the consequences,' he addressed PMF fighters. 'If you engage in political conflicts, you will lose your status in the eyes of the people.' His remarks come amid concerns over the PMF's role in the electoral process. Under Iraqi Election Law, security forces—including the PMF—cast their ballots one to two days before the general public vote to ensure election-day security. This early voting system has historically raised questions about the potential politicization of these forces. Meanwhile, the PMF's official leadership also weighed in on the electoral climate. In a statement issued Friday, the PMF condemned recent claims by a political figure alleging that some tribal units within the forces lack proper registration and include wanted individuals. The statement dismissed these allegations as 'baseless and sectarian,' affirming that all PMF units, including tribal formations, have fully documented records with the PMF's central intelligence and security directorates. The leadership cautioned that such rhetoric threatens to inflame divisions at a time when national unity is crucial. 'These are attempts to exploit the PMF's contributions for political gain,' it said, urging political actors to uphold the integrity of the PMF and respect its national mission. Iraq's upcoming election—its first in four years—will see nearly 29 million Iraqis eligible to vote, following the cabinet's decision in April to set the date for November 11. *A fatwa is an official legal opinion or interpretation issued by a qualified Islamic scholar (called a mufti) in response to a question about Islamic law (sharia). A fatwa is not legally binding in most contexts—it's a religious guideline or ruling on how to behave per Islamic principles. A fatwa might clarify how to perform religious duties, provide guidance on social or political issues, or settle disputes within a community. In Iraq, the famous 2014 fatwa by Al-Sistani, calling on Iraqis to join the fight against ISIS, was a key factor in the PMF formation.
