Baghdad — November 10, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
Iraq is preparing to hold parliamentary elections on Tuesday for the 329-seat legislature, with more than 7,700 candidates running and over 21 million eligible voters carrying biometric cards. While the vote takes place in a period of relative calm after years of conflict, experts warn that deep public disengagement and entrenched power structures continue to undermine the democratic promise.
Streets across Baghdad display campaign banners and political posters, yet many passers-by appear indifferent, often ignoring the visuals entirely. Analysts say this apathy is rooted in the widely held belief that the election will change little in practice. One comment captures the mood: “The electoral mood is apathetic. Many Iraqis view the vote as unlikely to change entrenched power structures, even as the country enjoys relative calm.
Despite the scepticism, recent surveys suggest some shifts — including a rise in public confidence in institutions: 55 % of respondents said they trust the government, and trust in the military, judicial system and police reached its highest level in years. However, experts argue that underlying causes of disillusionment remain unaddressed: the continued dominance of sectarian alliances, dominance of patronage networks, and the perception that elections function more as ritual than as genuine engines of change.
Iraq’s power-sharing system (Muhasasa), established after 2003, formally divides top posts among Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish blocs. While that structure was originally designed to prevent domination by one group, many critics now say it has entrenched sectarian divisions, restricted competition and halted meaningful reform.
Analysts caution that low turnout—potentially as low as 30 % of those with biometric voter cards—could further entrench the political status quo. “What it does do (is) lessen the credibility of the government, and this could lead to massive protests like we saw in 2019,” one expert warned.
The election also comes amidst external pressures: Iraq remains a key arena between U.S. and Iranian influence, with Washington pressing Baghdad to rein in pro-Iran militia forces and Tehran seeking to maintain its strategic foothold through allied political parties.
As Iraqis cast their ballots, the central question may be less who wins, and more whether the vote can move beyond symbolic gestures toward fostering genuine political renewal and reducing the alienation that has frustrated generations of citizens.
By Dalena Reporters — Middle East Desk