Friday, November 14, 2025 -Iraq’s parliamentary election brought a familiar yet unstable outcome: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani’s Reconstruction and Change coalition came out on top, but no single bloc secured a majority, making government formation a high-stakes game of alliances.
With 329 seats in parliament, the result means that al‑Sudani must negotiate with rival parties to build a viable coalition.
The political landscape remains deeply fragmented. Powerful Shiite militias aligned with Iran continue to wield influence through their political wings, while connections between parties are increasingly fluid and competitive.
On top of that, voter engagement is complicated by disillusionment: key groups boycotted the vote, and some civil‑society reformers struggled to unite, raising doubts over how much real change the new parliament can deliver.
Looking ahead, Iraq faces months of delicate deal‑making. Al‑Sudani needs to balance sectarian power-sharing with promises of reform, while major players will want guarantees on how Iran-aligned armed factions like the Popular Mobilisation Forces are integrated into state institutions.
Analysts warn that this could be less a fresh mandate than a continuation of elite bargaining — a cycle where elections confirm existing power structures rather than disrupt them.
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