Pro-Iran parties ahead in Iraq provincial vote

BAGHDAD: Pro-Iranian parties were leading in Iraq´s provincial council elections, according to initial results released on Tuesday by the electoral commission.

Monday´s vote was the first held in a decade and took place amid widespread political apathy in the oil-rich country, which is recovering from years of conflict and plagued by corruption. The vote in 15 of the country´s 18 provinces is seen as a key test for Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who rose to power just over a year ago, backed by pro-Tehran parties.

It precedes a general election due in 2025, but experts predict it will strengthen the dominance of the pro-Iran groups in Iraq. The electoral commission announced the preliminary results at a news conference during which officials gave the number of votes secured in each province by each political group.

Vying for victory were the “Nabni” (We build) alliance led by Hadi al-Ameri, a senior commander of the Hashed al-Shaabi, a network of former paramilitary units now integrated into the regular forces.