Post-Election Iraq Report: Anomalies Meet Consistencies

Written by Noor Omer 25/11/2025

8 Highlights of Iraq's 2025 Parliamentary Elections 

  • Voter Turnout Increase: Turnout surged to 56.11% in 2025 from 41% in 2021, indicating stronger public engagement despite boycott campaigns. 
  • Leading Parties and Seat Gains: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition emerged as the leading bloc with 46 seats; the State of Law Coalition gained 29 seats; Taqaddum secured 27 seats. 
  • Decline of Independents: Independent candidates lost all previously held 43 seats, reflecting challenges in mobilization and dominance of established party coalitions. 
  • Kurdish Parties Lose Seats: KDP remained strong with 27 seats (over 1 million votes); PUK gained modestly to 18 seats. However, the overall Kurdish seats declined from 63 in 2021 to 58. 
  • Voter Base Tightened: Southern provinces favored Sudani’s coalition and allied Shiite factions; Sunni strongholds like Nineveh and Anbar supported Taqaddum and allied coalitions. 
  • Invalid Votes: Approximately 729,923 invalid/abstained ballots signal persistent voter protest similar to 2021, highlighting ongoing political disengagement. 
  • Political Fragmentation: No party won a majority; coalition talks are needed despite political divisions and possible international and regional influences, such as the US and Iran. 
  • Women and Minority Representation: Women hold 83 seats across provinces; minorities have dedicated quota seats firmly maintained at 9 seats. 

A Democratic Success with Diverse Front-Runners  

Despite the vociferous push by influential leaders and groups for a mass boycott of the November 2025 elections, the decision to keep Iraq on its democratic foot, however fragile, was finally taken by the people of Iraq. The election results indicate a diverse representation of the electorate’s choice between the established, the new, and emerging political actors. It also signals renewed hope for the future of political participation with voter turnout at 56.11%, a surprisingly high figure considering public frustrations with the ruling class and boycott campaigns. The November voter turnout offers a picture of continuum against the backdrop of internal competition and political wrangling.  With analysts and outlier political actors predicting a low pre-election turnout of 30%, the high turnout came as the most surprising election result that will strengthen the democratic transfer of power as Iraqis remained committed to participating in their country’s democratic process. 

The election results indicate a diverse representation of the electorate’s choice among established, new, and emerging political actors. They also signal renewed hope for the future of political participation with a voter turnout at 56.11%, despite public frustrations and boycott campaigns.

The second election highlight was the relative victory by the incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition by becoming the leading bloc with 46 seats. Led by former Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, the State of Law Coalition came in second and gained 29 seats. The Sunni parties also saw increased votes, with the Taqaddum party securing 27 seats. Baghdad leads as the largest province, commanding 71 seats, followed by Basra with 25 seats and Nineveh with 34. The election results show that the southern provinces mostly voted in favor of the Sudain’s coalition along with allied Shiite factions, specifically Sadiqoon with 28 seats and the Badr organization with 21 seats. On the contrary, the Nineveh and Anbar turnout indicated Sunni strongholds with significant support for the Taqaddum Party.  

The Kurdish parties from the Kurdistan Region also fared well, with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) securing 27 seats and over 1 million votes, by far the highest number of votes gained by a single political party/coalition in the November vote. However, according to the amended Iraqi election law, which is based on the proportional system of representation, votes do not correspond with parliamentary seats. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) gained ground with 18 seats (up 1 seat from 2021), followed by the new entrant opposition party Halwest with 5 seats. The New Generation Movement (NGM) experienced a significant decline in the voter base, dropping from its 2021 secured 9 seats to only 3 seats. Despite the collective success of the Kurdish parties, their seats see a decline from 63 to a total of 58 in the 329-member parliament, and thus limiting their overall leverage and influence over policymaking in the next parliament.

While independent candidates secured 43 seats in the 2021 parliamentary elections, their inability to capture any seats in the 2025 vote stands out as one of the most striking outcomes of the election. 

Quick snapshots: 

 • Turnout: 56.11%  

 • Votes Cast: over 12 million 

• Valid Ballots: approximately 11,267,161  

• Invalid or abstained Ballots: 729,923 

While independent candidates secured 43 seats in the 2021 parliamentary elections, their inability to secure any seats in the 2025 vote remains one of the most striking outcomes of the election. Due to internal challenges around political organization and capability to mobilize voters outside deep-rooted party structures, where established parties and coalitions maintain strong bases, a swift decline/downturn for civil political forces is largely noticeable. Minority seats, which stand at 9 quota seats, also shifted noticeably given that candidates who were backed by larger parties gained ground such as the KDP in Duhok, while candidates backed by smaller parties like the Babylon Movement saw losses comparatively.  

Election Year Total Registered Voters Number of Independent Candidates Seats Won by Independents Invalid or Abstained Votes Voter Turnout  
2021 22,116,368 789 43 775,576 ~41% 
2025 21,404,291 75 729,923 56.11% 
Election Data comparison between 2021 and 2025 Iraq's Parliamentary Elections based on two criteria: Independent candidate performance and invalid ballots.

Kurdish provinces recorded the highest voter turnout, ranging from 60% to nearly 78%, demonstrating strong voter mobilization, mostly due to nationalistic motives. 

High Voter Turnout Comes as Biggest Surprise  

Overall, the election process indicates a strikingly higher voter turnout rate compared to the 2021 elections, which stood at only 41%, the lowest since Iraq’s first parliamentary elections in 2005. Kurdish provinces recorded the highest voter turnout, ranging from 60% to nearly 78%, demonstrating strong voter mobilization, mostly due to nationalistic motives. In contrast, lower turnout was in Arab provinces like Najaf and Maysan, where turnout hovered around 43.67% and 42.18%. Additionally, the voice of dissent and boycott expressed through the cast ballots remains similar to the 2021 vote, where out of 8,854,025 valid ballots, 775,576 were invalid. In this election, out of approximately 21.4 million registered voters, more than 12 million Iraqis voted and 729,923 were invalid or abstained votes.  

The numerical similarity between the invalid votes in 2021 and 2025 signals a trend rather than an anomaly, in contrast to the premature claims by some boycotting or opposition parties.

Nonetheless, while an invalid vote may indicate voter error in filling out the ballot accurately, it is also used as a deliberate tool for protest, hinting at political disengagement and dissatisfaction. The numerical similarity between the invalid votes in 2021 and 2025 signals a trend rather than an anomaly, in contrast to the premature claims by some boycotting or opposition parties.  One of the distinguishing factors in this election, which in no way had bearing on the results and outcome of the process, was the absence of UNAMI as an active but independent partner or observer. As UNAMI’s mandate is winding down and expected to end by December 31, 2025, per Iraq's request and UN Security Council Resolution 2732, Iraq’s electoral success signals important progress toward the country’s capacity to oversee a democratic process more independently. The higher turnout also reflects heightened public trust and engagement in the election process, suggesting improved legitimacy and effectiveness of the electoral entity, namely the Iraqi High Electoral Commission ( IHEC).  

Voter Turnout and Overall Results in Numbers 

Province Voter Turnout (%) Total Seats Women Seats Minority Seats 
Baghdad 48.86 71 17 
Nineveh 65.22 34 
Kirkuk 65.23 13 
Saladin 66.98 12 
Sulaymaniyah 60.47 18 
Erbil 71.82 16 
Duhok 77.61 12 
Najaf 43.67 12 
Basra 51.10 25 
Diyala 57.45 14 
Dhi Qar 48.97 19 
Karbala 47.56 11 
Muthanna 50.86 
Qadisiyah 49.27 11 
Anbar 66.81 15 
Maysan 42.18 10 
Wasit 47.72 12 
Babil 50.86 17 
Table 1: Voter Turnout and Total Seats by Province 
Figure 1: Seat allocation for women, minorities. Credit: channel8  

The Sadiqoon Movement increased its seats from 9 in 2021 to 27 in the 2025 elections, gaining 18 seats-the largest increase among all parties compared to the previous election.

Party/Coalition Total Seats Gains/Losses from 2021 
Reconstruction and Development (Al-Ima’ar Wal Tanmiya) 46 New 
Taqaddum Party 27 -10 
State of Law Coalition (E’tilaf Dawlat al-Qanoun) 29 -4 
Badr Organization 21 New  
Sadiqoon Movement 27 +18 
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) 27 -4 
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) 18 +1 
National State Forces Alliance Tahaluf Quwa al-Dawla al-Wataniyah) 18 +14 
Al-Azem (Tahaluf Azm al-Iraq) 15 +1 
Al-Asas New  
Ishraqat Kanoon +1 
Hoqouq Retained  
Tasmim   +1 
Table 2: Total Seats Gained by Major Parties/Coalitions Nationwide 
Province Total Minority Seats Minority Groups / Seat Holders (examples) 
Baghdad Evan Faeq (Christian), Bassam Zuhairi (Sabean) 
Nineveh Waad al Qaddo (Shabak), Khaled Sido (Yazidi), Aswan Sawa (Christian) 
Kirkuk Imad Yokhana Yaqo Yokhana al-Imadi (Minority quota) 
Erbil Caldo Ramzi Shabu Ogna (Christian) 
Duhok Sami Oshana Korkis Anouya (Christian) 
Wasit Haidar Ali Mohammad Ali al-Hamoundi (Feyli Kurd quota) 
Table 3: Quota Seats for Minorities by Province 
Province Invalid/Abstained Votes 
Sulaymaniyah 137,611 (highest) 
Erbil 116,900 
Baghdad 105,384 
Nineveh 48,131 
Duhok 34,694 
Diyala 34,177 
Basra 29,733 
Kirkuk 29,490 
Anbar 26,782 
Dhi Qar 25,303 
Salahaddin 25,189 
Babil 24,424 
Karbala 18,078 
Najaf 17,655 
Diwaniyah 17,207 
Maysan 15,499 
Wasit 14,604 
Muthanna 9,062 
Total 729,923 
Table 4: invalid votes (abstained and spoiled included)  
Figure 2: Total seat Distribution in Council of Representatives (CoR). Refer to Appendix for detailed breakdown per province. Credit: Channel8. 

The Road Ahead 

The new parliament is fragmented with no party or coalition winning an outright majority. This situation will make forming a functioning government challenging, as various groups, including Kurdish factions and southern Shiite blocs, must negotiate alliances and consider several pathways to form a majority bloc. The Kurdish parties and their divided stance mean their role in government formation will be both critical and unpredictable. In south of Iraq, Shiite Arab blocs aligned with Sudani’s coalition will likely seek to consolidate power, but the diversity of political actors means negotiations will be protracted. The possible tilt in the balance of power suggests that Iraq’s political stability and policy direction will depend on the ability of political elites to forge workable coalitions. And since no party commands a majority, coalition talks will likely be obstructed by deep divisions in the parliament. 

Nonetheless, statements among parties and coalitions seem to hint at an overall agreement over a prime minister who is an administrator of the state rather than a political leader. The elections, similar to 2021, still underline the importance of coalition-building as the only way to form a stable government with a previously agreed upon arrangement under Iraq’s power-sharing conventions, also called the Muhasasa system, which gives the President of the Republic to the Kurds, the Prime Minister to the Shiia, and the Speaker of Parliament to the Sunni Arabs.  

The elections highlight ongoing challenges for Iraq’s democracy and government, including political divisions and regional influence. The struggle between Baghdad’s central government and Kurdish regional authority remains important. International and regional powers like Iran and the US also influence political alliances in Iraq. Political fragmentation and voter distrust continue to slow democratic progress, highlighting the need for institutional reforms and greater political inclusion. 

Constitutional procedures for the formation of a cabinet start after approval of all appeals through Iraqi High Electoral Commission (IHEC) and federal supreme court. After the complete ratification of the election results, the following are to take place:  

  • Parliament convenes: Within 15 days, the President of Iraq calls the new parliament to hold its first session, during which the parliamentary leadership is elected. 
  • Election of the President: Within 30 days, parliament must elect a new President of the Republic. 
  • Nomination of the Prime Minister: The newly elected President has 15 days to assign the candidate from the “largest parliamentary bloc” to form a government. 
  • Formation of the Cabinet: The designated prime minister then has 30 days to present the cabinet lineup and secure parliament’s confidence. 

Appendix: Complete Breakdown of Seats by Province (IHEC data) 

Baghdad: 71 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won Minority 
Al-Ima’ar Wal Tanmiya (Reconstruction and Development) 411,300 15  
Taqaddum Party 277,416 10  
State of Law Coalition (E’tilaf Dawlat al-Qanoun) 228,300  
National State Forces Alliance (Tahaluf Quwa al-Dawla al-Wataniyah) 138,904  
Sadiqoon 128,249  
Al-Azm Alliance (Tahaluf Azm al-Iraq) 128,122  
Badr Organization 116,704  
National Sovereignty Alliance (Tahaluf Siyada al-Watani) 110,037  
Al-Asas Al-Iraqi 104,164  
Huqooq 77,763  
Al-Hasm al-Watani 53,143  
Absher Ya Iraq 38,762  
Khadamat alliance 37,933  
Ishraqat Kanoon 23,288  
Evan Faeq (Individual - Christian quota) 13,137 – Minority quota 
Bassam Zuhairi (Individual - Sabean quota) 5,410 – Minority quota 

Najaf: 12 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won 
Al-Ima’ar Wal Tanmiya (Reconstruction and Development) 56,464 
National State Forces Alliance (Tahaluf Quwa al-Dawla) 45,224 
State of Law (Dawlat Al-Qanoun) 41,173 
Sadiqoon 40,338 
Khadamat (Services) 33,000 
Abshir Ya Iraq 32,706 
Foundation (Al-Asas) 27,657 
Ishraqat Kanoon 24,823 

Muthanna: 7 seats  

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won 
Al-Ima’ar Wal Tanmiya (Reconstruction and Development) 57,411 
State of Law (Dawlat Al-Qanoun) 41,408 
Sadiqoon 37,183 
National State Forces Alliance (Tahaluf Quwa al-Dawla) 34,740 
Foundation (Al-Asas) 32,817 

Qadisiyah (al-Diwaniyah): 11 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won 
Al-Ima’ar Wal Tanmiya (Reconstruction and Development) 70,953 
State of Law (Dawlat Al-Qanoun) 52,568 
Badr Organization 35,073 
Sadiqoon 34,490 
National State Forces Alliance (Tahaluf Quwa al-Dawla) 31,123 
Services (Khadamat) 30,937 
Ishraqat Kanoon 22,102 

Al-Anbar: 15 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won 
Taqaddum Party 212,838 
Al-Anbar Is Our Identity Alliance (Al-Anbar Huwiyyatuna) 128,325 
Qimam Coalition 97,635 
Al-Azm Alliance (Tahaluf Azm al-Iraq) 78,446 
Al-Tafawwuq 47,074 
Sovereignty Alliance (Al-Siyada) 40,820 

Nineveh: 34 seats  

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won Minority  
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) 189,535  
Taqaddum Party 157,958  
Al-Ima’ar Wal Tanmiya (Reconstruction and Development) 146,859  
Ninawa Li Ahliha (Nineveh for Its People) 111,225  
Al-Azm Alliance (Tahaluf Azm al-Iraq) 101,035  
Al-Hasm al Watani (Determination) 86,656  
Badr Organization 77,046  
Sovereignty Alliance (Al-Siyada) 64,545  
Ahl Ninawa (Nineveh's People Union) 56,420  
Al Mashrou' Al Arabi Fi al-Iraq (Arabic Project in Iraq) 54,573  
National Identity Alliance (Tahaluf al-Huwiyyah al-Wataniyah) 50,200  
Yazidi Cause Alliance (Tahaluf al-Qadiyah al-Yzidiyah) 49,211  
Al-Jamahir al-Wataniya 37,381  
Waad al Qaddo (Individual - Shabak minority seat) 10,501 Minority quota
Khaled Sido (Individual - Yazidi minority seat) 9,687 Minority quota
Aswan Sawa (Individual - Christian minority seat) 6,234 Minority quota

Kirkuk: 13 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won Minority  
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) 178,845  
Taqaddum Party 107,037  
Iraqi Turkmen Front 66,179  
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) 59,374  
Arab Alliance in Kirkuk 53,046  
Al-Azm Alliance (Tahaluf Azm al-Iraq) 46,412  
Imad Yokhana Yaqo Yokhana al-Imadi (Individual - Minority quota) 17,680 – Minority quota

Erbil: 16 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won Minority  
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) 369,724  
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) 97,411  
National Stance Movement (Harakat al-Mawqif al-Watani) 63,298  
New Generation Movement (NGM) 38,921  
Caldo Ramzi Shabu Ogna (Individual - Christian quota) 18,517 – Minority quota

Salahadin: 12 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won 
Taqaddum Party 82,870 
Al-Ima’ar Wal Tanmiya (Reconstruction and Development) 80,528 
Al-Azm Alliance (Tahaluf Azm al-Iraq) 74,783 
Al-Jamaheer al-Wataniya 67,368 
Tahaluf Salahuddin al-Muwahad (Unified Alliance) 57,150 
Tahaluf Sharakatuna 50,980 
Al-Hasm al-Watani (Determination) 41,378 
Tafawuq Alliance 37,252 

Sulaymaniyah: 18 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won 
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) 241,143 
National Stance Movement (Harakat al-Mawqif al-Watani) 75,375 
New Generation Movement (Al-Jeel Al-Jadeed) 69,781 
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) 68,834 
Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU)  65,312 
Kurdistan Justice Group  34,563 

Duhok: 12 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won Minority  
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) 413,890  
Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) 72,986  
Sami Oshana Korkis Anouya (Individual - Christian quota) 22,838 – Minority quota

Maysan: 10 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won 
Al-Ima’ar Wal Tanmiya (Reconstruction and Development) 67,122 
Badr Organization 41,029 
State of Law (Dawlat Al-Qanoun) 34,706 
Sadiqoon 34,590 
National State Forces Alliance (Tahaluf Quwa al-Dawla al-Wataniyah) 31,744 

Diyala: 14 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won 
Badr Organization 105,346 
Taqaddum Party 101,691 
National Sovereignty Alliance (Tahaluf Siyada al-Watani) 77,496 
Sadiqoon 55,409 
Al-Azm Alliance (Tahaluf Azm al-Iraq) 54,939 
Diyala First (Diyala Awalan) Coalition 53,469 
Thabitoon 30,449 

Wasit: 12 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won Minority  
Wasit Al-Ajmal Alliance 106,152  
State of Law Coalition (E’tilaf Dawlat al-Qanoun) 58,385  
Al-Ima’ar Wal Tanmiya (Reconstruction and Development) 51,269  
Sadiqoon 37,291  
National State Forces Alliance (Tahaluf Quwa al-Dawla al-Wataniyah) 35,794  
Haidar Ali Mohammad Ali al-Hamoundi (Individual - Feyli Kurd quota) 17,188 – Minority quota

Basra: 25 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won 
Tasmim Alliance 173,761 
Sadiqoon Movement 151,274 
Al-Ima’ar Wal Tanmiya (Reconstruction and Development) 126,077 
State of Law Coalition (E’tilaf Dawlatal-Qanoun) 69,445 
National State Forces Alliance (Tahaluf Quwa al-Dawla) 54,652 
Huqooq 49,545 
Badr Organization 47,327 
Absher Ya Iraq 44,584 
Al-Faw Zakho Coalition 31,972 
Al-Asas Al-Iraqi 31,718 

Dhi Qar: 19 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won 
Al-Ima’ar Wal Tanmiya (Reconstruction and Development) 80,892 
State of Law (Dawlat Al-Qanoun) 74,563 
Sadiqoon Movement 61,696 
National State Forces Alliance (Tahaluf Quwa al-Dawla al-Wataniyah) 46,607 
Badr Organization 44,421 
Sumeriyoun Movement 36,611 
Services (Khadamat) 31,171 
Abshir Ya Iraq 23,214 
Ishraqat Kanoon 22,521 
Daam al-Dawla bloc 21,615 
Huqooq 21,184 

Karbala: 11 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won 
Al-Ima’ar Wal Tanmiya (Reconstruction and Development) 78,388 
State of Law (Dawlat Al-Qanoun) 59,314 
Ishraqat Kanoon 42,814 
Al-Asas Al-Iraqi 27,715 
Sadiqoon 26,816 
National State Forces Alliance (Tahaluf Quwa Al-Dawla) 22,262 
Badr Organization 20,299 

Babil: 17 seats 

Political Party/Alliance Votes Seats Won 
Al-Ima’ar Wal Tanmiya (Reconstruction and Development) 91,424 
Sadiqoon 79,566 
State of Law (E’tilaf Dawlatal-Qanoun) 68,584 
Ishraqat Kanoon 56,174 
National State Forces Alliance (Tahaluf Quwa al-Dawla al-Wataniyah) 51,916 
Services (Khadamat) 38,547 
Sumeriyoun Movement 29,857 
Idrak 28,491 
Badr Organization 25,192 

Editorial Note: The numbers reflect the official published numbers as of the time of this publication. This report is subject to editing in the event major amendments are made to the results by IHEC.  

Content Type:Special Reports
Share this:

Related Researches