Iraq’s election broke a voting record Sunday, though not the record one would expect.
Initial turnout for Iraq’s parliamentary election Sunday was approximately 41%, a record low for the country. While the turnout was higher than election officials predicted, it was still lower than the country’s last election in 2018, when turnout was 44.5%. The election’s low turnout is believed to be a result of growing distrust in Iraq’s government.
“Boycotting eventually would be inevitable, and that’s what happened in today’s election,” political analyst Ahmed Younis told Reuters.
US SHOOTS DOWN PAIR OF IRANIAN DRONES ATTACKING IRAQ AIRPORT
The election was held several months earlier than intended due to a new law designed to help independent candidates — a response to widespread anti-government protests in 2019. The protests led to the death of 600 residents over the span of several months.
One Iraqi resident, Abdul Ameer Hassan al Saadi, said he was boycotting the election because he lost his 17-year-old son during the protests, explaining that he would not vote for “killers and corrupt politicians,” according to the outlet.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq is expected to sweep the vote with the help of a movement led by populist Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr. Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi, a politician seen as Western-friendly with no party to back him, is not running for election, though negotiations after the vote could see him get a second term.
At least 167 parties and over 3,200 candidates are competing for Parliament’s 329 seats, the outlet reported.
