Khaberni - Sources close to the coalition of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani told AFP that his list achieved a "major victory" in the parliamentary elections that took place on Tuesday.
A senior official close to the Prime Minister told the agency, "The Development and Reconstruction Bloc achieved a very significant breakthrough," while two other sources close to the list confirmed that it most likely secured "the largest parliamentary bloc," reaching 50 seats or more.
The Independent High Electoral Commission in Iraq is expected to announce the preliminary results later on Wednesday evening.
On Tuesday, Iraqis voted to select a new parliament in elections that saw a high turnout rate exceeding 55%, marking a decisive stage at both a domestic and regional level.
The unexpected turnout rate marked a significant increase compared to the 41% turnout, the lowest ever, during the previous elections in 2021.
Once the parliament appoints a president of the republic, the latter will nominate the head of the government, who is the candidate of "the largest number parliamentary bloc" according to the constitution, and who will be the actual representative of the executive authority.
In the absence of an absolute majority, any coalition capable of negotiating with allies to form the largest bloc will select the next Prime Minister.
The process of nominating the Prime Minister and forming the government is the most complex following elections.
As in previous occasions, parties belonging to the Shiite majority reached agreements to nominate the Prime Minister and form the government.
According to the traditions followed in post-Saddam Hussein Iraq after the 2003 American invasion, the Shiite majority takes the premiership, the most important position, the Sunnis take the parliament, while the presidency, which is largely symbolic, goes to the Kurds.
