Iraq to hold parliamentary election in May: PM

AFP  |  Baghdad 

The Iraqi has decided to hold a parliamentary on May 15 next year, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said today.

The decision needs to be approved by and the president at least 90 days in advance of that date before it can be confirmed, according to the electoral commission.


The commission had previously proposed the be held on May 12.

Iraq is made up of 18 constituencies, each electing between seven and 34 deputies according to demographics.

Eight seats are set aside for minorities: five for Christians, one for Sabeans, one for Yazidis and one for Shabaks.

While most deputies are elected in their constituencies via proportional representation, seven "national seats" are shared among parties based on countrywide

The Iraqi comprises 328 lawmakers who serve four-year terms.

The last took place in April 2014 when the State of alliance of former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki won most of the votes but fell short of an overall majority.

Maliki ceded power to Abadi that August amid political gridlock as Islamic State group jihadists seized swathes of Iraqi territory.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Thu, November 02 2017. 00:57 IST