IHEC announces final results of parliamentary election

By Mohammed al-Qaisi in Baghdad
For Al-Shorfa.com
2010-03-27

[Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP/Getty Images] IHEC official Qassem al-Abbudi speaks during a press conference announcing the election results.

The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced Friday evening (March 26th) the final results of Iraq's 2010 parliamentary election.

The announcement was made during a press conference held at al-Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad, where a number of Iraqi and international officials attended the event.

According to the announced results, al-Iraqiyah coalition led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi won the most seats in the parliament, with a total of 91.

The State of Law coalition led by incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki came in second with 89 seats. The Iraqi National Alliance came in the third place with 71 seats, while the Kurdish Coalition won 42 seats.

The Iraqi Accordance won six seats, the Kurdish Change List won eight, the Kurdistan Islamic Union and the Iraqi Unity Alliance each won four, and the Kurdish Islamic Group/Iraq won two.

After the results were announced, the IHEC and the UN mission in Iraq called on all political entities to respect the outcome of the election.

"All political entities must accept the results of the parliamentary election and not cast doubts over the work of electoral commission," said IHEC president Faraj al-Haidari during the press conference.

"The political entities that challenge the election results can appeal the results before the IHEC appeal panel within three days after the publication of election results in official gazettes," al-Haidari added.

"Casting doubts over the work of the electoral commission will not serve the public interest of the country," he said.

Al-Haidari called on the political entities that won seats to "work to form the next parliament and to stop any attempt that may be exploited by some sides that oppose the democratic process in Iraq."

Following the announcement, Baghdad and a number of other Iraqi cities witnessed large-scale celebrations, described as the biggest in years.

"Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis spent the night under the rain happily celebrating the announcement of results and the victory of their lists," said Ali al-Khalidi, an observer with the Board of Commissioners.

"The Iraqi election was a great success, and the proof is that the supporters of winning coalitions went out to celebrate without fears of terrorist threats or political tension," he added.

Meanwhile, al-Iraqiyah leader Ayad Allawi called for "working jointly to establish the pillars of stability in Iraq and realise prosperity for the people of Iraq."

"Al-Iraqiyah coalition has a real desire to enter into an alliance with all the political entities that won in the election, and even the ones that did not win, in order to build a strong, secure and prosperous Iraq," Allawi added.

Leader of the Iraqi Unity Alliance Jawad al-Bolani congratulated "the Iraqi people on their joy and reaping the fruits of their sacrifices. I am sure that we are now on the right track that will lead us to the shore of safety."

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called on Iraqis to preserve public security, abide by the law, and to challenge the results of election "via legal and judicial means". He said that the announced results are not final, pointing to "complaints and challenges filed with courts in order to redress matters".

The results of the parliamentary election will not be considered final until the Iraqi Federal Court approves them, as required by the Iraqi constitution.

On Thursday, the Iraqi Supreme Federal Court announced that according to the Iraqi constitution, the parliamentary block with the most seats in parliament after forming political alliances -- not just the party that won the most seats in the election -- has the right to present a candidate for the Prime Minister position.

The following are the official results by province:

Baghdad

Number of seats: 68

Results: State of Law coalition (26), al-Iraqiyah (24), Iraqi National Alliance (17), Iraqi Accordance (1)

Basra

Number of seats: 24

Results: State of Law coalition (14), Iraqi National Alliance (7), al-Iraqiyah (3)

Babil

Number of seats: 16

Results: State of Law coalition (8), Iraqi National Alliance (5), al-Iraqiyah (3)

Karbala

Number of seats: 10

Results: State of Law coalition (6), Iraqi National Alliance (3), al-Iraqiyah (1)

Najaf

Number of seats: 12

Results: State of Law coalition (7), Iraqi National Alliance (5)

Muthanna

Number of seats: 7

Results: State of Law coalition (4), Iraqi National Alliance (3)

Wasit

Number of seats: 11

Results: State of Law coalition (5), Iraqi National Alliance (4), al-Iraqiyah (2)

Dhi Qar

Number of seats: 18

Results: Iraqi National Alliance (9), State of Law coalition (8), al-Iraqiyah (1)

Salah al-Din

Number of seats: 12

Results: al-Iraqiyah (8), Iraqi Accordance (2), Iraqi Unity Alliance (2)

Anbar

Number of seats: 14

Results: al-Iraqiyah (11), Iraqi Accordance (2), Iraqi Unity Alliance (1)

Diyala

Number of seats: 13

Results: al-Iraqiyah (8), Iraqi National Alliance (3), State of Law coalition (1), Kurdish Coalition (1)

Kirkuk

Number of seats: 12

Results: al-Iraqiyah (6), Kurdish Coalition (6)

Ninawa

Number of seats: 31

Results: al-Iraqiyah (20), Kurdish Coalition (8), Iraqi Accordance (1), Iraqi Unity Alliance (1), Iraqi National Alliance (1)

Qadisiyah

Number of seats: 11

Results: Iraqi National Alliance (5), State of Law coalition (4), al-Iraqiyah (2)

Maysan

Number of seats: 10

Results: Iraqi National Alliance (6), State of Law coalition (4)

Erbil

Number of seats: 14

Results: Kurdish Coalition (10), Kurdish Change List (2), Kurdistan Islamic Union (1), Kurdish Islamic Group/Iraq (1)

Duhok

Number of seats: 10

Results: Kurdish Coalition (9), Kurdistan Islamic Union (1)

Sulaymaniyah

Number of seats: 17

Results: Kurdish Coalition (8), Kurdish Change List (6), Kurdish Islamic Union (2), Kurdish Islamic Group/Iraq (1)

Minority seats were as follows:

Yazidi Movement for Reform and Progress (1)

Mohammed al-Shabaki (1)

Kahlid Amin / Sabian (1)

Al-Rafedein List / Christian (3)

Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council / Christian (2)

Compensatory seats were as follows:

Al-Iraqiyah (2)

Iraqi National Alliance (2)

State of Law coalition (2)

Kurdish Coalition (1)

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