Iraqi election recount is over, but old disputes and rivalries are likely to ring in the new era

Iraq’s election results drew a mixed response from political parties, casting doubt on their ability to reach an agreement to form a government.

After weeks of dealing with about 1,500 complaints and recounting some of the ballots, Iraq’s Independent High Elections Commission confirmed the final results of October’s poll on Tuesday.

The political bloc sponsored by prominent Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr won 73 seats in the 329-seat parliament, followed by Taqadum party, led by Sunni Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al Halbousi, with 37 seats.

Former prime minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law bloc was placed third with 33 seats.

Al Fatah bloc, made up mainly of pro-Iran Shiite militias, won 17 seats, compared to the 45 seats it won in 2018.

The recounts affected five seats in five provinces – Baghdad, Nineveh, Erbil, Basra and Kirkuk.

Al Fatah and the Kurdistan Alliance were awarded two new seats each, while the Sunni Azim coalition, led by tycoon Khamis Al Khanjar, picked up one.

After the results, Mr Al Sadr launched the hash tag# Thank You Election Com miss on on Twitter, which trended mainly among his followers.

Despite emerging as clear winner, he will have a hard time forming a government.

The Shiite Co-ordination Framework, made up of Al Fatah, State of Law and other parties, rejected the revised results and accused the IHEC of manipulation, although the EU and UN said the poll was well managed.

“We categorically reject the current election results,” the group said. “It is clear now and without any doubt that the Elections Commission had prepared these results before against the will of the Iraqi people.”

Their demands now go beyond recounting votes.

“We reiterate our firm stance, which is based on documents and proof that there has been widespread manipulation in the elections results,” it said.

“We are committed to continuing our lawsuit, which we have filed at the Federal Court to annul the elections.”

The results of the recount were sent to the Supreme Federal Court for ratification.

Once they are approved, President Barham Salih will call on the new parliament to convene.

The largest political bloc will be declared in the first session to have the right to nominate a prime minister and begin negotiations to form the government.

It is still unclear whether the Co-ordination Framework, which has more than 50 seats, can form an alliance inside parliament or ally with other parties given the differences among its leaders.

Since no party won a majority of seats, negotiations to choose a prime minister and form a government could take weeks.

The new parliament will involve newcomers. More independent candidates won seats, including the activist Imtidad Movement, with nine.

For Riyadh Ashour, a resident of the southern city of Nasiriyah, little will change.

“The same political parties are still controlling the country,” Mr Ashour, 59, told The National.

“They play it in a way that allows them to stay in power and maintain full control.”

But the arrival of independents brings some hope.

“Their presence is a seed that we will water and support to bring change in the future,” Mr Ashour said.