Iraq holds provincial council elections after 10-year hiatus

BAGDAD (AA) - Iraqis on Monday returned to the polls for provincial council elections after a decade-long hiatus, with the previous elections held in 2013.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also cast his vote and observed the electoral process at the polling center in the Watan School in the capital, Baghdad.

“Local elections are an important constitutional entitlement. The governorate councils are an important executive pillar in the state," said a statement from the prime minister’s media office.

Al-Sudani called for "active participation in the elections" and praised the efforts of the security agencies and the Independent High Electoral Commission, which made "exceptional efforts to complete all the requirements of the electoral process."

Ammar al-Hakim, the head of the Wisdom Movement, also cast his vote and hailed the role of the Electoral Commission in accomplishing the requirements of the electoral process.

Speaking to the press after casting his vote, al-Hakim said: “We encourage citizens to attend and participate in the elections.”

On Saturday, a special voting took place for security forces in all their branches and the displaced people.

According to the Independent High Electoral Commission's data, the participation rate in the special voting exceeded 67%.

The governorate councils in Iraq serve as the legislative and supervisory authority in each province.

These elected councils have the right to issue local legislation, allowing them to manage their affairs according to the principle of administrative decentralization, without conflicting with the constitution and federal laws falling under the exclusive jurisdiction of the authorities.

The electoral term for the governorate councils is 4 years.

On Sunday, Jumana Al-Ghalai, the spokesperson for the Electoral Commission, said: "The results of the general and special voting will be announced simultaneously, within 24 hours after the end of the voting, in line with the amended law for the 2023 governorate council elections."

* Writing by Rania Abu Shamala