Early on Sunday, Iraqis headed to the polls in an early election held as a concession to anti-government protests but one expected to be boycotted by many voters who distrust official promises of political reform.
As polls opened at 7 am, few voters turned up early at one polling station in Baghdad, while dozens of election observers deployed by the European Union and the United Nations were set to monitor the vote, according to AFP.
Security was tight in Baghdad, with voters searched twice at the entrance to polling stations.
Airports have been closed until dawn on Monday across Iraq, where despite the government’s declaration of victory over the ISIL (ISIS) group in late 2017, sleeper cells continue to mount attacks.
“Iraqis should have the confidence to vote as they please, in an environment free of pressure, intimidation and threats,” the UN mission in Iraq said ahead of the polls, according to AFP.
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, whose political future hangs in the balance, cast his ballot early in Baghdad, urging Iraqis to “get out there and vote, change your reality, for Iraq and for your future.”
Analysts have predicted a record-low turnout for the polls, held a year early in a rare concession to the youth-led protest movement.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in October 2019 to express their anger at corruption, unemployment and crumbling public services, and hundreds lost their lives in protest-related violence.
Over the last two years, dozens of anti-government activists have been killed, kidnapped or intimidated with accusations that pro-Iran armed groups, many of which are represented in parliament, have been behind the violence.
At least 167 parties and more than 3,200 candidates are competing for Iraq’s 329 seats in parliament, according to the country’s election commission.
The Fateh Alliance, the bloc representing many Iran-backed Shia militias, is expected to retain its share of seats.
The list of populist leader Muqtada al-Sadr, already the largest in the outgoing parliament, is expected to make gains but not enough to dominate the Shia camp.
Polls remain open until 6 pm, with preliminary results expected within 24 hours of closing.
It’s expected to take longer to reach the balance of power between the leading factions and independents, since Iraqi elections are often followed by months of protracted negotiations over a president, a prime minister and a cabinet.
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