Following Iraq’s nationwide vote yesterday, the political landscape has shifted significantly as unofficial results revealed a clear victory for Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s Development and Construction Coalition. The announcement came during a press conference by Judge Omar Ahmed Mohammed, head of the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission.

Sudani Leads in Baghdad

In the capital, Baghdad, Sudani’s coalition took the lead, followed by former Speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi’s Taqaddum Party in second place, and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law Coalition in third.
The National State Forces Alliance led by Shia cleric Ammar al-Hakim ranked fourth, while the Sadiqoun list affiliated with the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq Movement came in fifth.

KDP and PUK Dominate Kurdish Provinces

In the Kurdish north, results varied across provinces.
In Mosul, Masoud Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) came first, followed by the Taqaddum Party, while Sudani’s coalition ranked third.
In Erbil, the KDP again topped the polls, ahead of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Movement for Reform (Durush). The New Generation Movement placed fourth.

In Sulaimaniyah, the PUK secured first place, followed by Durush and New Generation, while Duhok remained a stronghold for the KDP.

Sudani Strong in Southern Provinces

Sudani’s coalition performed strongly across Iraq’s Shia-majority south. In Basra, Governor Asaad al-Idani’s Tasmim Coalition won first place, followed by the Sadiqoun list and Sudani’s bloc in third. However, in Najaf, Karbala, Maysan, Dhi Qar, Babil, Qadisiyah, and Muthanna, Sudani’s coalition achieved a commanding lead.

Mixed Results in Kirkuk and Diyala

In the ethnically diverse province of Kirkuk, the PUK came first, followed by the Taqaddum Party and the United Iraqi Turkmen Front.
In Diyala, Hadi al-Amiri’s Badr Organization took first place, with the Taqaddum Party in second and Khamis al-Khanjar’s Sovereignty Alliance in third.

Sudani: Iraq Comes First

Following the announcement of the results, Prime Minister Sudani thanked voters and reaffirmed his coalition’s commitment to national priorities:

The Development and Construction Coalition’s victory reflects our belief in putting Iraq first. With the determination of its loyal sons, Iraq will always remain our top priority. We thank our people for supporting our path of work, reconstruction, and progress.

Sudani’s victory is seen as a key step toward restoring political stability in Iraq, though attention now turns to the formation of the next government and the policy direction it will take.