Iraq parliament approves May 12 for elections

By Haydar Hadi

BAGHDAD (AA) - The Iraqi parliament on Monday approved May 12 as the date of the country's upcoming general elections.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, MP Emad Yohana said the date had been approved by a majority of lawmakers attending Monday's session; 206 MPs of the 328-member parliament attended the session.

Last week, a major Sunni coalition called for postponing the polls, citing that the vote could not be held with thousands of people having been displaced amid the fight against Daesh terrorists.

Notably, this year’s election will see current Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and former premier Nouri al-Maliki leading two separate electoral coalitions although they are members of the same political party, Dawa.