Iraq’s electoral commission says candidate vetting results due within two days

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission said Wednesday it will announce final results of its candidate vetting process for the 2025 parliamentary elections within two days, after more than 700 candidates have been disqualified so far.

“The vetting results for election candidates are still being received from the relevant authorities, and the final results may be announced in the next two days,” the commission’s legal adviser, Hassan Salman, told the Iraqi News Agency.

He said the figures remain subject to change as appeals are reviewed. “The number of disqualified candidates so far exceeds 700, but this number may decrease if some disqualified candidates return or increase if new information is received about others,” Salman said.

The commission is also tracking campaign violations, with other cases referred to the Integrity Commission and the Supreme Judicial Council. “A number of specific violations have been identified and referred to the relevant authorities for legal action,” Salman said.

Earlier disqualifications were made under Article 7(3) of Election Law No. 12 of 2018, which requires candidates to show “good conduct and behavior” and bars those convicted of corruption or crimes of moral turpitude. Some candidates were also excluded over forged academic certificates, pending verification by the Ministry of Education.

Parliamentary elections are scheduled for Nov. 11, with campaigning set to begin Oct. 9.