Coalition led by Iraqi PM Sudani comes first in Iraq’s election, say sources

A coalition led by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani came first in Iraq's parliamentary election, two electoral commission officials with knowledge of the results told reporters on Wednesday.

Sudani was seeking a second term in Tuesday's election but many disillusioned young voters saw the vote simply as a vehicle for established parties to divide up Iraq's oil wealth.

However Sudani tried to cast himself as the leader who could finally make Iraq a success after years of instability, arguing he had moved against established parties that brought him to power.

No party is able to form a government on its own in Iraq’s 329-member legislature, and so parties have to build alliances with other groups to become an administration, a fraught process that often takes many months.

The final total turnout in Iraq's parliamentary election reached 56.11%, the electoral commission said earlier on Wednesday.

Reuters