The “
preliminary
”
participation rate
in the early legislative elections in Iraq reached 41%, the Electoral Commission announced early Monday, October 11 in the morning, which represents a higher abstention than in the last ballot in 2018. This initial rate published by the Election commission is based on the results in 94% of polling stations, the commission said in a statement.
In 2018, participation stood at 44.52% according to official figures that detractors considered inflated.
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“
The number of voters is 9,077,779,
” the Electoral Commission said in a statement.
“
The preliminary turnout is 41%,
” she added.
In Baghdad, the participation rate varied between 31% and 34%, depending on the neighborhood.
Some 25 million voters were called to the polls on Sunday to choose from more than 3,200 candidates.
While the vote was still underway on Sunday, the head of the European Union observation mission, Viola von Cramon, deplored "
a very low turnout
".
"
This is a clear political signal, and we can only hope that it will be heard by the political elite
," she added.
Initially scheduled for 2022, the elections were brought forward to calm the protest born at the end of 2019, an expression of immense popular dissatisfaction with sprawling corruption, failing public services and a failed economy in a country rich in oil.
The election of the 329 deputies is done according to a new electoral law, which establishes a first past the post and increases the number of constituencies to encourage, in theory, independents and local candidates.
According to experts, the big traditional blocs should preserve their representation in a fragmented parliament, where the absence of a clear majority forces to negotiate alliances.
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