Iraq opened early polls Sunday as security forces and displaced citizens cast ballots ahead of the national election. About 1.3 million troops and police, plus 26,000 displaced people, can participate. Voters will decide if Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani wins a second term while Iraq navigates pressure from Israel, Iran, and Washington. Thousands of candidates, mostly aligned with sectarian parties, compete for seats.
Displaced Communities Seek Political Influence
Yazidis who fled IS violence more than a decade ago voted from camps near Dohuk. Many cannot return home due to destroyed infrastructure and ongoing territorial disputes. IS killed and enslaved thousands during its campaign in Sinjar. Some Yazidis have returned, but multiple armed groups divide the area and block reconstruction.
Voter Edris Zozani supported the Kurdish Democratic Party. “Independent Yazidis cannot advocate effectively,” he said. “Strong parties like the KDP can advance Yazidi interests in parliament.” The vote highlights the community’s struggle for representation and security.
Militia Presence Looms Over Capital Polls
In Baghdad, soldiers, police, and Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) members cast ballots. The PMF, a coalition of Shiite militias backed by Iran, officially answers to the military but operates largely independently. Parliament debates legislation clarifying PMF authority, drawing criticism from Washington.
A PMF member, speaking anonymously, said, “I voted for the list defending the PMF.” Several PMF factions run political candidates. Their results could influence Iraq’s military structure and the country’s foreign relations.
