Latest news with #Jumanaal-Ghalai
Shafaq News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
IHEC: +29 million Iraqis eligible to vote in elections
Shafaq News/ Voter registration and biometric data updates will continue through June 15 as part of preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for November 11, Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced on Saturday. While 1,079 registration centers remain open across the country, operating daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., including weekends and holidays, IHEC spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai told Shafaq News that over 29 million Iraqis are currently eligible to vote, but the final count will depend on the ongoing data verification process. Al-Ghalai highlighted that under Election Law No. 12 of 2018, biometric voter cards are mandatory to participate in the election, noting, 'So far, 1,508,189 citizens have updated their records.' She further clarified that IHEC has dispatched mobile teams to public institutions, organized awareness campaigns, and rolled out nationwide media outreach across TV, radio, and digital platforms urging voters to verify their information.
Shafaq News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq elections: Parties entitled to twice the number of parliamentary seats
Shafaq News/ Registered political parties may nominate up to two candidates per parliamentary seat, regardless of the total number of competing parties, Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) affirmed on Monday. IHEC spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai told Shafaq News that 335 political parties are currently licensed and registered, with more than 100 having expressed intent to participate in the November 2025 parliamentary elections. 'Currently, 61 parties are still in the process of formation,' al-Ghalai said, adding that 66 political coalitions have formally registered with IHEC's Department of Political Parties and Organizations Affairs. Among them are six that recently updated their registration data and five newly established alliances. Meanwhile, the Strategic Center for Human Rights (SCHR) raised concerns over the growing gap between the size of Iraq's 329-seat parliament and its rapidly expanding party landscape. SCHR Deputy Head Hazem al-Rudaini noted that 333 parties are formally recognized under the 2015 Parties Law, with over 50 more awaiting final approval. He called for a legislative review of the law after ten years of implementation, suggesting that any party failing to contest two consecutive election cycles should have its license revoked. 'The goal of forming a party should be active participation in the political and electoral processes.' The official also recommended that political groups maintain offices in multiple provinces to show national reach, and urged regular monitoring of their rhetoric, which he said often includes calls to boycott elections and withdraw from the political process.
Shafaq News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Patriarchal Society: Can Iraq's women break political barriers in 2025?
Shafaq News/ As Iraq prepares for its parliamentary elections scheduled for November 11, 2025, the road to political participation remains fraught with challenges for Iraqi women. Despite a constitutional quota that guarantees women 25% of the seats in parliament, deep-seated societal norms, political exclusion, and legislative loopholes continue to undermine the potential for meaningful representation. Legal Rights vs. Practical Realities On paper, Iraqi women have equal legal footing with men in seeking parliamentary office. The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) confirms that both genders must meet identical eligibility criteria: Iraqi nationality, full legal capacity, a minimum age of 30, and at least a bachelor's degree. Additionally, candidates must have a clean legal record—free of corruption charges or final convictions related to financial misconduct or abuse of public funds. 'The law also prohibits candidacy for anyone still serving in military, security, or judicial positions,' IHEC spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai told Shafaq News, reiterating the non-discriminatory framework outlined in electoral regulations. However, experts and rights advocates say the practical experience of female candidates tells a different story—one marked by character defamation, digital harassment, and institutional bias. Securing the 25% Quota Under the amended Election Law No. 12 of 2018, women are guaranteed at least 83 of the 329 seats in Iraq's Council of Representatives. These seats are distributed proportionally by province, based on population. Yet the implementation of this quota has done little to shield women from the cultural and political forces arrayed against them. ' Halabja will remain part of Al-Sulaymaniyah's electoral district in the upcoming elections,' said Hassan Hadi Zayer, an IHEC media official. Granting Halabja its own seat requires a legislative amendment—one that has yet to materialize, further reflecting the sluggish pace of electoral reform. IHEC member Saad al-Rawi also pointed out that the latest population census has not been factored into district allocations due to the lack of updated legal mechanisms. Beyond the Ballot: Social and Political Obstacles Many female candidates face persistent societal resistance once they enter the political arena. 'Smear campaigns begin almost immediately after women announce their candidacy,' said Insam Salman, director of the Isen Organization for Human Rights in Iraq, in an interview with Shafaq News. According to Salman, these attacks are often personal and disproportionately affect women who lack tribal protection or backing from influential political parties. 'Iraqi society is still fundamentally patriarchal and views leadership roles as male domains. A woman's political ambition is often seen as a challenge to male authority,' she explained. This gendered hostility not only deters women from entering politics but also erodes their chances of sustaining meaningful political careers. While many women enter parliament under the quota, they are frequently sidelined from leadership roles within parliamentary committees or executive bodies. Salman emphasized that addressing these challenges requires more than symbolic representation, 'We need legislative deterrents to prevent defamation and to protect women in the public sphere. But more importantly, we need a cultural shift that normalizes female leadership.' Structural Imbalance in Lawmaking This exclusion of women has broader implications for governance. Political analyst Nawal al-Moussawi told Shafaq News that Iraq's legislative process continues to suffer from gender and social imbalances, particularly in laws intended to protect women, children, and marginalized communities. 'There's a deep-rooted distortion in how laws are crafted and who benefits from them,' she said. 'Dominant political blocs often push legislation that reflects narrow ideological interests, sidelining issues that affect half the population.' Al-Moussawi cited repeated attempts to amend the Personal Status Law—a key legal framework governing marriage, divorce, and inheritance—as examples of how conservative forces have attempted to roll back women's rights under the guise of legal reform. Describing the current (fifth) parliamentary session as 'a clear failure,' she warned that public confidence in democratic institutions is waning. 'There is growing disillusionment among civil society actors and ordinary citizens. If nothing changes, we risk repeating this failure in the next term—or perhaps something worse.' With elections drawing near, the conversation around women's political participation has gained urgency. Yet for many advocates, the 25% quota is no longer seen as a sufficient benchmark. Experts stress that fostering inclusive governance requires both institutional reform and societal transformation.
Shafaq News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq elections: 80 parties, 71 alliances eye November vote
Shafaq News/ 80 political parties and 71 electoral alliances intend to participate in the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections scheduled for November 11. The Independent High Electoral Commission's (IHEC) spokesperson, Jumana al-Ghalai, told Shafaq News on Monday that 'a total of 66 electoral alliances have been registered with the Department of Political Parties and Organizations Affairs since 2018,' adding that since mid-April, five new alliances have also completed their registration. IHEC also reported that 331 political parties have been registered in Iraq since 2015. To accommodate more political coalitions, the commission announced yesterday an extension for registering electoral alliances. The new deadline is on May 14.
Shafaq News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
IHEC: Early political promotion not officially recognized
Shafaq News/ With Iraqi Parliamentary elections scheduled for November 11, a growing number of Iraqi politicians have started promoting themselves months ahead of the official campaign period, despite not yet registering with the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). Under IHEC regulations, campaigning is permitted only after candidates complete the required legal, educational, and background checks, including de-Baathification, and receive official approval. Former IHEC board member Saad al-Rawi noted that some figures are publicly presenting themselves as candidates without joining an official political list or meeting eligibility criteria. He called for a more robust framework to address the legal, cultural, and administrative loopholes affecting the electoral process. IHEC spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai told Shafaq News that promotional activity by unregistered individuals is not recognized by the commission. Official campaigning begins only after candidates receive their assigned numbers through a lottery, at which point IHEC begins monitoring compliance with campaign rules. As preparations continue, the commission has also introduced a cap on campaign spending to promote fair competition among political groups. According to political analyst Mujashaa al-Tamimi, IHEC also intends to incorporate modern technology into election monitoring, aiming to enhance transparency and increase.
