Iraq election appeals completed, clearing way for top court review

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s electoral judicial panel has finished ruling on all 853 appeals filed against the results of the Nov. 11 parliamentary elections, the Supreme Judicial Council said Sunday, moving the process a step closer to final certification.

In a statement, the council said the panel completed its review of every challenge submitted over the outcome of the vote and associated procedures. Under Iraq’s electoral system, the appeals stage must be concluded before results are referred to the Federal Supreme Court for ratification.

The Nov. 11 election, Iraq’s sixth parliamentary vote since 2003, was held in general and special voting rounds across the country’s 18 constituencies. According to the Independent High Electoral Commission, Shiite lists won 187 seats, Sunni lists secured 77 seats, and Kurdish lists took 56.

IHEC previously said the Reconstruction and Development Alliance led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani received the highest number of votes, with 1,317,346 ballots across 12 governorates, followed by the Taqaddum Party headed by Mohammed al-Halbousi and the State of Law Coalition led by Nouri al-Maliki.

With the judicial panel’s work complete, the file will now move to the Federal Supreme Court, which is responsible for certifying the final results. Once the court ratifies the outcome, seat allocations become definitive and the new Council of Representatives can convene, opening the way for negotiations over the next government.