2009 Iraqi governorate elections

2nd Iraqi governorate elections 2009 Iraqi governorate elections Iraq parliamentary no 2005 Iraqi governorate elections 2005 2013 Iraqi governorate elections 2013 440 seats comprising 14 of the 18 governorates of Iraq 31 January 2009 90px|Nouri al-Maliki FF0000 Nouri al-Maliki State of Law Coalition 42 126 84 1,362,594 19.1% 100px|Abdul Aziz al-Hakim 009933 Abdul Aziz al-Hakim Al-Mehraab Martyr List 195 52 143 482,800 6.8% 80px|Muqtada al-Sadr 000000 Muqtada al-Sadr Independent Free Movement 43 17 434,849 6.1% 125px|Tariq Al-Hashimi F47C20 Tariq Al-Hashimi Iraqi Accord Front 45 32 13 449,575 6.3% 102px|Ayad Allawi 098DCD Ayad Allawi Iraqi National List 18 26 8 404,201 5.7% 100px|Ibrahim al-Jaafari FF0000 Ibrahim al-Jaafari National Reform Trend 23 23 273,130 3.8% 2009_Iraqi_elections.svg Colours show the largest list per governorate right|thumb|Governorates holding election are green; Kirkuk (blue) and Iraqi Kurdistan (red) postponed their elections for later on the year. Governorate or provincial elections were held in Iraq on 31 January 2009, to replace the local councils in fourteen of the eighteen governorates of Iraq that were elected in the 2005 Iraqi governorate elections.http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/09/24/Iraq.main/ Stage being set for Iraqi elections as violence flares CNN.com 2008-09-24 2022-05-28http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7718687.stm Date set for Iraq provincial poll 9 November 2008 14,431 candidates, including 3,912 women, contested 440 seats. The candidates came from over 400 parties, 75% of which were newly formed.From bullets to ballot box – Iraq's violence-free election, The Scotsman, 2009-01-22 Legal framework Government of Iraq from 2006 In February 2008, the Iraqi Parliament passed a Provincial Powers Act by a majority of one, with many members of parliament not present at the proceedings. It included giving the Prime Minister the power to dismiss a governor of a province, a measure that would have left considerable power in the hands of the Shi'a dominated central government in Baghdad. The Act required a Provincial Elections Law to be passed within the next 90 days and for elections to be held no later than the beginning of October 2008. The Presidency Council initially referred the law back, saying it did not comply with the constitutional rights of governorates. It was reported that vice President Adil Abdul-Mahdi, whose Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council party is strong in many southern Iraqi governorate councils, particularly objected.Iraqi local election law rejected, BBC News, 2008-02-27, accessed on 2008-07-27Sadr anger over Iraq law setback, BBC News, 2008-02-28, accessed on 2008-07-27 However, the Council reversed its position following protests from the Sadrist Movement, saying they would instead seek changes to the law before it came into force.Iraqi Council Ends Objection to Election Law, The New York Times, 2008-03-20, accessed on 2008-03-23 In July 2008 the Iraqi Election Commission proposed postponing the elections until December because delays in passing the election law had left too little time to prepare.Iraq election panel proposes delay in holding provincial voting, International Herald Tribune, 2008-07-20, accessed on 2008-07-20 The Provincial Elections bill was eventually approved by the Council of Representatives on 22 July 2008 despite a walkout by members of the Kurdistani Alliance over a clause making Kirkuk Governorate council a power-sharing arrangement.Iraq elections law passes, but vote date in doubt, CNN, 2008-07-22, accessed on 2008-07-22 The next day the Presidency Council of Iraq, consisting of President Jalal Talabani, who is Kurdish, Vice-President Adel Abdul Mahdi, a Shi'ite Arab, and Vice-President Tariq al-Hashimi, a Sunni Arab, unanimously agreed to reject the bill because of the Kirkuk clause, and send it back to the Council of Representatives to reconsider.Iraq's presidency council vetoes provincial election bill, People's Daily, 2008-07-24, accessed on 2008-07-27SIIC head, Badr Organization discuss elections lawAugust 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes , Aswat al-iraq, 2008-07-28, accessed on 2007-07-28 The second draft was ratified by the Presidency Council on 7 October 2008, who stated that a minority clause may be added later.https://www.rferl.org/a/Iraqs_Presidency_Approves_Provincial_Elections_Law/1293754.html Iraq's Presidency Approves Provincial-Elections Law Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 3 October 2008 http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6511083.html Iraqi presidential council approves provincial election law - People's Daily Online A minority clause was added on 3 November. Kirkuk Governorate 2009 Kirkuk governorate election The original draft proposed delaying the election in Kirkuk Governorate until after the referendum to decide its precise status has been held. However, a group of Turkmen and Arab MPs proposed a power-sharing clause, establishing a provincial council consisting of ten Kurds, ten Arabs, ten Turkmens and two Assyrians. This clause was included in the draft election bill put to the Iraqi Council of Representatives in July 2008, and led to the Kurdish parties walking out in protest, complaining "If you already pick the seats before the election, why vote?"Kurds Protest Iraqi Election Law, The New York Times, 2008-07-16, accessed on 2008-07-20 The law was nonetheless approved on 22 July 2008. However, President Jalal Talabani, who is Kurdish, and Vice-President Adel Abdul Mahdi, a Shi'ite Arab, have agreed they would reject the bill, and hence it would be sent back to the Council of Representatives to reconsider. Parliamentary summer recess started on 30 July 2008, but a special session was called for 3 August 2008 to find a solution to the Kirkuk issue.Iraqi Parliament calls session on Kirkuk – International Herald Tribune At that meeting, no solution was reached; at another meeting on 4 August 2008, lawmakers postponed the session to 5 August 2008,AFP: Iraqi parliament delays meeting on key voting law https://web.archive.org/web/20090207205924/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i78a8WhNf9-f4mUhHfd2p1Ker-PQ 2009-02-07 Iraqis see compromise on Kirkuk standoff – International Herald Tribune and on that date to 6 August 2008.Parliament session on election law adjourned as dispute continues over Kirkuk_English_Xinhua It was then postponed to 9 September 2008, with a committee working on a compromise solution until then.Iraqi Parliament fails to agree on elections law, International herald Tribune, 2008-08-06, accessed on 2008-08-06 At that session, no resolution was reached, and negotiations continued on 10 September 2008 in the form of a special six-member panel formed for this occasion.https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/world/middleeast/10iraq.html?ref=middleeast Iraqi Parliament Returns to Tackle Issue of Election Law The New York Times 10 September 2008 Robertson Campbell Kakan Atheerhttp://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6497236.html Iraq form panel to resolve dispute over election bill - People's Daily Online The law was finally passed on 24 September 2008 and the election is expected to be held by 31 January 2009;https://www.rferl.org/a/Iraq_Passes_Poll_Law_Vote_Urged_Before_Jan_31/1291232.html Iraq Passes Election Law, Vote Urged Before End of January Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 24 September 2008 the compromise was that Kirkuk would be dealt with separately, and elections in Kirkuk and the three Kurdish autonomous provinces will be held at a later time.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7633557.stm Iraq deal over province elections 24 September 2008 A special panel was to work on a solution on Kirkuk and report back by 31 March 2009.http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/25/africa/25iraq.php Iraq passes provincial elections law - International Herald Tribune 2008-09-25 2008-09-25 https://web.archive.org/web/20080925181311/http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/25/africa/25iraq.php dead The United Nations Special Representative for Iraq, Staffan de Mistura proposed holding elections in all governorates except Kirkuk, and deferring the Kirkuk elections for six months in order to find an acceptable compromise.Iraqi parliament again puts off election vote, Reuters, 2008-08-05, accessed on 2008-08-05 A draft bill based on this proposal was debated on 6 August and accepted by the Kurdistani Alliance but opposed by the Iraqi Turkmen Front, Iraqi Accord Front and Sadrist Movement who objected to the draft law's reference to the Kirkuk status referendum and insisted on delaying the entire elections until a solution was found.Iraq MPs still at odds over provincial elections law https://web.archive.org/web/20090207150849/http://www.metimes.com/Politics/2008/08/05/iraq_mps_still_at_odds_over_provincial_elections_law/afp/ 2009-02-07 , Middle East Times, 2008-08-06, accessed on 2008-08-06 Minorities Under Article 50 of the draft Elections law, religious minorities such as Christians and Yazidis would be reserved a number of seats in the provincial assemblies. This clause was removed in the final draft, with legislators citing a lack of census data for determining the appropriate number of seats. Five thousand Christians demonstrated in Mosul against this change, saying it was a "marginalisation of their rights" and the head of the Assyrian Church of the East wrote to the Presidency Council asking them to veto the law.Thousands of Iraqi Christians protest country's new provincial law https://web.archive.org/web/20090207084024/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1433561.php 2009-02-07 , Monsters and critics, 2008-09-28Christians call for representation in Iraq https://web.archive.org/web/20081003033240/http://www.metimes.com/Security/2008/09/29/christians_call_for_representation_in_iraq/4ef0/ 2008-10-03 , Middle East Times, 2008-09-30 Prime Minister al-Maliki said he was concerned and called on parliament and the Iraqi High Electoral Commission to "remove all the concerns, injustice and the sense of exclusion felt by some segments of Iraqi society".Al-Maliki backs legislative seats for religious minorities in Iraq, Associated Press, 2008-09-29 Kurdish MP Mahmoud Othman called on the Presidency Council of Iraq to use its review process to force an amendment to include a minority quota, saying "The rule of the majority means there should be protection of the minorities"Iraq election law marks progress, opens political season, The Christian Science Monitor, 2008-09-26 A Sadrist leader also said Christians should be allowed to "contribute to the building of the Iraqi state" and the removal of this clause "threatened the unity of Iraq"Sadrist leader: Iraq's unity threatened by lack of minority quota https://web.archive.org/web/20081002075417/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1433945.php/Sadrist_leader_Iraqs_unity_threatened_by_lack_of_minority_quota_ 2008-10-02 , Monsters and Critics, 2008-09-30 The UN Special Envoy also criticised the removal of the minorities clause.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7649196.stm UN criticises Iraqi election law 2 October 2008 A minority clause was added on 3 November 2008, although it only provided for six special seats (three for Christians, one each for Yazidi, Mandean and Shabak) instead of twelve as recommended by the UN.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7706781.stm Iraq minorities quota 'an insult' 3 November 2008 The Christians got a seat each in Baghdad, Nineveh, and Basra, the Yazidi and Shabak in Nineveh, and the Mandeans in Baghdad.Iraqi parliament approves amendment for provincial election law, Xinhua, 2008-11-03 Female quota Original drafts of the Election law included a guarantee that the elected councils would contain at least 25% women. However, the law passed stated instead that there would be "a woman at the end of every three winners". The Electoral Commission has interpreted this to mean that where a list wins more than two seats in a particular governorate, the third seat will be awarded to a woman on the party's list. Given the large number of parties contesting the election, many of whom are expected to win one or two seats, female MPs raised concerns that the change in language has weakened this provision.Changes in Iraq Election Law Weaken Quota for Women, The New York Times, 2009-01-13 Electoral system The previous Governorate and national elections in Iraq have been held under a "Closed list" electoral system, whereby voters select a party or coalition and the party or coalition selects the individual parliamentarian. The new election will be held under an "Open list" system, whereby voters may select either a party or an individual candidate; the candidates elected from a list will be those that get the most individual votes from among that list. The system also promotes the representation of women, for if the top two people elected from a list are men, the subsequent person elected will be the woman with the most votes.not so open, abu muqawama, 2008-09-25 Militias In March, the government of Nouri al-Maliki moved against militias allied to the Sadrist Movement in Basrah Governorate. Sadrists accused Maliki of trying to weaken them ahead of the polls, but Maliki claimed he was just targeting "criminal gangs". Following this, Maliki said he would disqualify any parties from the election who refused to disband their militia. In April the cabinet agreed on a draft elections law, which included a clause banning parties with militias.Iraqi cabinet seeks to ban militias from elections, Reuters, 2008-04-13, accessed on 2008-04-14 The Sadr Movement however, still ran in the elections. Campaign The security situation in this election was much better than in previous elections. Security was provided by the Iraqi security forces with the Multinational force in Iraq playing no role for the first time. Candidates felt safe enough to canvass for votes, while the 2005 elections saw little public campaigning. Nonetheless, eight candidates were killed during the campaign, borders were closed for voting and curfews and vehicle bans were put in place.Poll candidates killed in Iraq , Al Jazeera, 2009-01-30 However, this compared favourably to the 2005 elections when over 200 candidates were killed. Early voting took place on Wednesday 28 January for 614,000 soldiers, police, prisoners, patients and internally displaced people. Sunni Arab areas The current Governorate councils were elected in the 2005 Iraqi governorate elections, which were boycotted by Sunni Arabs, resulting in several Sunni Arab-majority provinces such as Nineveh Governorate and Saladin Governorate being run either ethnic Kurdish parties, or multi-ethnic parties of Shia faith. As Sunni Arab parties have since decided to participate in elections, these elections are expected to give them more representation. The elections are also expected to develop electoral competition within the Sunni Arab population between the pro-government Iraqi Accord Front and the new political groups formed out of the anti-al-Qaeda Awakening movement militias. A leading member of the Awakening movement in Baghdad, Abu Azzam al-Tamimi, has formed the Iraqi Dignity Front to contest the elections. The Awakening movement in Anbar has formed the National Front for the Salvation of Iraq. These parties are expected to sweep the Sunni Arab vote in Anbar, Salahuddin, Diyala, and Baghdad.Renewed Civil War In Iraq?, CBS News, 2008-10-01 In Ninawa, the Sunni Arab-majority al-Hadba party—which is also backed by Prime Minister Nouri al-MalikiFractures in Iraq City as Kurds and Baghdad Vie, The New York Times, 2008-10-27—complained of being targeted by Kurdish security forces. A candidate for the Sunni Arab "Iraq for Us" coalition in Ninawa was killed by a gunman who walked into a café and shot him.Election friction flares in Iraq's violent north, Reuters, 2009-01-02 Shiite Arab areas One senior government official said the elections would "redraw the political map of Iraq" while Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi described them as a "major rehearsal for the parliamentary elections" due in 2009–2010. An expert from the International Crisis Group predicted a "big shift", with the existing parties established by exiles losing ground to more recently formed parties of people who stayed in Iraq during the rule of Saddam Hussein.Iraq's local elections could reshape power structure, Reuters, 2008-04-10, accessed on 2008-04-14 There is also expected to be significant electoral competition between two main Shiite Islamist parties in the government—the Islamic Dawa Party of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council of Vice-President Adil Abdul-Mahdi. Following the Battle of Basra (2008), the Prime Minister created "support councils" to help with security in the southern provinces and Maliki was accused of using these support councils to build a political base. The Presidency Council of Iraq publicly criticised the Prime Minister in November 2008, saying these support councils were illegal, should be suspended and the money used to support the regular Army and Police.Iraq's Prime Minister, President in public quarrel, Tehran Times, 2008-11-24 Competition is also expected between the government Islamist parties and the opposition Sadrist Movement, with some commentators saying Sadrists were expected to win a majority of seats in southern Iraq and parts of Baghdad.Inside Iraqi politics – Part 5. A look at legislative progress: Sunnis’ and states’ rights, Long War Journal, 2008-02-28Sadr launches his election campaign, Time, 2008-06-14, accessed on 2008-12-02 The Sadrist Movement supported the Blamelessness and Reconstruction (376) list and the Independent Trend of the Noble Ones (284)The Sadrist Parliamentary Bloc Confirms Its Support of Two Electoral Lists https://web.archive.org/web/20090131070555/http://historiae.org/notebook.asp 2009-01-31 , Historiae, 2009-01-11 Some commentators predicted there would be a backlash against the incumbent religious parties in favour of more secular parties.Iraq religious parties may face election backlash, Reuters, 2009-01-22 Shortly before the election, an initiative was started in Basra Province to convert the province into a Region. The initiative failed to reach 10% of eligible voters in the specified period, meaning it fell.Autonomy Referendum For Iraq's South Struck Down, Radio Liberty, 2009-01-20 Results 450px|thumb|right|Election map showing the largest list per governorate There were 15 million eligible voters, but hundreds of thousands of voters were omitted from the ballot lists. Mithal al-Alusi, an Arab nationalist MP, complained that there were "many mistakes" by the Commission and Iranian diplomats had been allowed entry to polling stations.Al-Maliki allies ahead in Iraq vote, Al Jazeera, 2009-02-04 There were international observers in every one of the 712 constituencies—the first election since the 2003 invasion of Iraq to be fully observed.Hopes surge with Iraq ballot February 7, 2009 The Australian http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25018547-15084,00.html dead https://archive.today/20121215202900/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25018547-15084,00.html December 15, 2012 Unlike the 2005 election, there was no boycott by any significant political movement; however, turnout was down on the previous election at slightly over 51%. ISCI blamed the election day vehicle ban, which meant voters often had to walk long distances to the polling centres.Iraqi Shiite party denies setback in regional vote, International Herald Tribune, 2009-02-02 Official results were not expected until days after the election.https://www.rferl.org/a/Turnout_Over_50_Percent_For_Iraqi_Poll/1377482.html Turnout over 50 Percent for Iraqi Poll Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty February 2009 The Islamic Dawa Party turned as largest party in Shi'a south.http://www.ihec.iq/English/press_releases.aspx#525 IHEC - Press Releases 2009-03-04 2009-02-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20090221155631/http://ihec.iq/English/press_releases.aspx#525 dead http://www.metimes.com/Security/2009/02/05/iraqi_election_results_are_in/d9a6/August 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes Total seats October 2019 PartyTotal votesPercentageTotal seatsParty leaderState of Law Coalition 1,362,59419.1%126Nouri al-Malikial-Mehraab Martyr List482,8006.8%52Abdul Aziz al-HakimIndependent Free Movement434,8496.1%43Muqtada al-SadrIraqi Accord Front449,5756.3%32Tariq al-HashemiIraqi National List404,2015.7%26Ayad AllawiNational Reform Trend273,1303.8%23Ibrahim al-JaafariBrotherhood List353,3285.0%20Barzani, TalabaniNational Iraqi Project Gathering328,2504.6%19Saleh al-MutlaqAl-Hadbaa National List435,5956.1%19Atheel al-NujaifiAwakening Council56,2620.8%8Abu RishaIslamic Virtue Party140,6482.0%6Abdul al-HuseiniOther Parties2,422,42433.7%66-Total7,143,656100%440- Provincial turnout GovernorateVotes castSeatsAnbar 317,074 29Babil 487,858 30Baghdad 1,694,930 57Basra 646,109 35Dhi Qar 453,80631Diyala 430,40729Karbala 291,47927Maysan 234,39827Muthanna 207,75226Najaf 338,54028Nineveh 995,16937Qadisiyyah 332,17628Saladin 403,76428Wasit 310,19428Total: 7,143,656440 Al Anbar Governorate 2009 Al Anbar governorate election PartyTotal votesPercentageSeatsParty leaderIraq Awakening and Independents National Alliance (Sahwa)56,262 17.1% 8Abu RishaNational Iraqi Project Gathering53,48717.6%6Saleh al-MutlaqTribes and Educated Coalition for Development51,73315.9%6Tariq al-HashemiNational Movement for Development and Reform (al-Hal)23,8357.8%3Jamal al-KarbuliIraqi National List21,5516.6%2Ayad AllawiCoalition for Iraqi National Unity14,4394.6%2Mohammed al-KasanzaniTribes of Iraq Coalition13,7984.5%2Hamid al-HaisOther parties-25.9%0Total317,074100%29 Babil Governorate 2009 Babil governorate election PartyTotal votesPercentageSeatsParty leaderState of Law Coalition 60,914 12.5% 8Nouri al-Malikial-Mehraab Martyr List40,3658.2%5Abdul Aziz al-HakimIndependent Free Movement30,1196.2%3Muqtada al-SadrNational Reform Trend21,0554.4%3Ibrahim al-JaafariIraqi Commission for Independent Civil Society Organizations19,8754.1%3Saleh al-MutlaqIndependent Justice Association17,6833.7%3Iraqi National List17,0173.4%3Ayad AllawiIndependent Ansar Bloc16,4933.4%2Other parties-54.1%0Total487,858100%30 Baghdad Governorate 2009 Baghdad governorate election PartyTotal votesPercentageSeatsParty leaderState of Law Coalition 641,925 38.0% 28Nouri al-MalikiNational Accordance Front (Tawafuq)153,2199.0%7Tariq al-HashimiIndependent Free Movement151,0939.0%5Muqtada al-SadrIraqi National List148,1338.6%5Ayad AllawiNational Iraqi Project Gathering113,7876.9%4Saleh al-Mutlaqal-Mehraab Martyr List (ISCI)91,7595.4%3Abdul Aziz al-HakimNational Reform Trend71,6634.3%3Ibrahim al-JaafariOther parties-18.8%0Minority Seats:Christian Seat: Ishtar Patriotic List 4,334 1 Sarkis AghajanSabean-Mandean Seat: Independent 241 1 Ali Hussein al-Saberi Total1,694,930100%57 source: IHEC Basra Governorate 2009 Basra governorate election PartyTotal votesPercentageSeatsParty leaderState of Law Coalition 239,007 37.0%20Nouri al-Malikial-Mehraab Martyr List (ISCI)74,87911.6%5Abdul Aziz al-HakimGathering of Justice and Unity34,8625.5%2al-FaizIndependent Free Movement (Sadrist)32,0205.0%2Muqtada al-SadrIraqi Islamic Party24,8133.8%2Tariq al-HashimiIraqi National List21,0913.2%2Ayad AllawiIslamic Virtue Party (Fadhila)20,9323.2%1Abdul al-HasiniOther parties-30.7%0Christian Seat: Chaldean Democratic Union Party 227-1Ablahad Afraim SawaTotal646,109100%35 Dhi Qar Governorate 2009 Dhi Qar governorate election PartyTotal votesPercentageSeatsParty leaderState of Law Coalition 107,410 23.1%13Nouri al-MalikiIndependent Free Movement61,92914.1%7Muqtada al-Sadral-Mehraab Martyr List (ISCI)51,46311.1%5Abdul Aziz al-HakimNational Reform Trend34,2557.6%4Ibrahim al-JaafariIslamic Virtue Party (Fadhila)27,1386.1%2Abdul al-HasiniOther parties-48%0Total453,806100%31 Diyala Governorate 2009 Diyala governorate election PartyTotal votesPercentageSeatsParty leaderUnited Accord and Reform Front in Diyala (Tawafuq) 91,135 21.1%9Tariq al-HashemiNational Iraqi Project Gathering66,30917.0%6Saleh al-MutlaqKurdistan Alliance62,21915.0%6Massoud Barzani, Jalal TalabaniIraqi National List42,6509.5%3Ayad AllawiState of Law Coalition27,4086.0%2Nouri al-MalikiNational Diyala Alliance25,0685.3%2Abdul Aziz al-HakimNational Reform Trend20,1404.3%1Ibrahim al-JaafariOther parties-21.6%0Total430,407100%29 Karbala Governorate 2009 Karbala governorate election PartyTotal votesPercentageSeatsParty leaderYoussef Mohammed al-Haboubi37,846 13.3% 1IndependentHope of Al-Refedein26,967 8.8%9(Sadrist Affiliated)State of Law Coalition25,649 8.5%9Nouri al-Malikial-Mehrab Martyr List (ISCI)19,346 6.8%4Abdul Aziz al-HakimIndependent Free Movement 19,215 6.4%4Muqtada al-SadrOther parties 56.2%0Total291,479100%27 Note: While Youssef al-Haboubi got the most votes, he stood as independent candidate, thus only winning one seat for himself. Maysan Governorate 2009 Maysan governorate election PartyTotal votesPercentageSeatsParty leaderState of Law Coalition42,214 17.7% 8Nouri al-Malikial-Mehraab Martyr List (ISCI) 35,093 15.2%8Abdul Aziz al-HakimIndependent Free Movement35,075 14.6%7Muqtada al-SadrNational Reform Trend 20,144 8.7%4Ibrahim al-JaafariOther parties 43.8%0Total234,398 100%27 Muthanna Governorate 2009 Al Muthanna governorate election PartyTotal votesPercentageSeatsParty leaderState of Law Coalition 22,627 10.9% 5Nouri al-Malikial-Mehraab Martyr List (ISCI)19,448 9.3%5Abdul Aziz al-HakimAl-Jumhoor List14,520 7.1%3National Reform Trend 12,8786.3%3Ibrahim al-JaafariIndependent Free Movement11,436 - 2Muqtada al-SadrGathering for Muthanna10,867 5.0%2Independent National List9,854 4.9%2Independent Iraqi Skills Gathering8,941 4.4%2Middle Euphrates Gathering8,322 3.9%2Other parties 42.7%0Total 207,752100%26 Najaf Governorate 2009 Najaf governorate election PartyTotal votesPercentageSeatsParty leaderState of Law Coalition 54,907 16.2% 7Nouri al-Malikial-Mehraab Martyr List (ISCI)50,146 14.8%7Abdul Aziz al-HakimIndependent Free Movement40,186 12.2%6Muqtada al-SadrLoyalty for Najaf 30,2198.3%4Adnan al-ZurufiNational Reform Trend 23,377 7.0%2Ibrahim al-JaafariIndependent Najaf Union12,766 3.7%2Other parties 37.8%0Total338,540 100%28 Nineveh Governorate 2009 Nineveh governorate election PartyTotal votesPercentageSeatsParty leaderAl-Hadbaa National List435,595 48.4% 19Atheel al-NujaifiBrotherhood Ninawa273,458 25.5%12Massoud Barzani, Jalal TalebaniIraqi Islamic Party60,191 6.7%3Tariq al-HashemiOther parties 19.4%0Minority seatsChristian Seat: Ishtar Patriotic List 13,760 1 Sarkis AghajanShabaki Seat: Qussai Abbas Mohammed 12,949 1 IndependentYezidi Seat: Yazidi Movement for Reform and Progress 6,174 1 Total 995,169100%37 Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate 2009 Al-Qādisiyyah governorate election PartyTotal votesPercentageSeatsParty leaderState of Law Coalition 78,276 23.1% 11Nouri al-Malikial-Mehrab Martyr List (ISCI) 38,97211.7%4Abdul Aziz al-HakimIraqi National List 27,6878.2%3Ayad AllawiNational Reform Trend 26,7388.0%3Ibrahim al-JaafariIndependent Free Movement21,742 6.7%2Muqtada al SadrIslamic Loyalty Party14,054 4.3%2(Sadrist Affiliated)Islamic Virtue Party 13,596 4.1%2Abdul al-HasiniOther parties 33.9%0Total 332,176100%28 Saladin Governorate 2009 Saladin governorate election PartyTotal votesPercentageSeatsParty leaderSalahuddin Accordance Front (Tawafiq) 57,264 14.5% 5Tariq al-HashemiIraqi National List56,853 13.9%5Ayad AllawiNational Iraqi Project Front (Groups)35,482 8.7%3National Iraqi Project Gathering 35,1318.5%3Saleh al-MutlaqIraqi Scholars and Intellectuals Group 23,7726.0%2Iraqi Turkoman Front19,013 4.8%2Saadeddin ArkejLiberation and Construction Front 18,743 4.5%2National Salah ad-Din List 18,079 4.6%2Fraternity and Peaceful Coexistence List 17,651 4.5%2Massoud Barzani, Jalal TalebaniState of Law Coalition 14,422 3.5%2Nouri al-MalikiOther parties 21%0Total403,764 100%28 Wasit Governorate 2009 Wasit governorate election PartyTotal votesPercentageSeatsParty leaderState of Law Coalition 47,835 15.3% 13Nouri al-Malikial-Mehrab Martyr List (ISCI) 30,712 10.0% 6Abdul Aziz al-HakimIndependent Free Movement 18,261 6.0% 3Muqtada al-SadrIraqi National List 14,596 4.6% 3Ayad AllawiIraqi Constitutional Party 12,235 3.9% 3Jawad al-BulaniOther parties 60.2%0Total310,194 100%28 Coalitions After the elections, the National Reform Trend said it has formed an agreement with the State of Law Coalition to ally in all provinces where they had won seats.Fayadh declares plan to ally with SLC https://web.archive.org/web/20111004110307/http://www.ninanews.com/Elections/English/News_Details.asp?ar95_VQ=FDGH 2011-10-04, National Iraqi News Agency, 2009-03-04 In Al Anbar, Qasim Al-Fahdawi, an independent from the Sahwa list was elected governor, he formed an administration with all parties in Anbar (most important being his own Sahwa list and al-Mutlaq's NIPG), except the Iraqi Islamic Party, which previously ruled the local government.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-04-fg-iraq-anbar4-story.html Archives Los Angeles Times 4 May 2009 In Diyala the winning Iraqi Accord Front joined into a coalition with the Kurdistan Alliance, together holding a 15-seat majority out of the governorates 29 seats, they were also backed by the National Diyala Alliance, an ISCI affiliated list which held 2 seats.http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=108703 Aswat Al Iraq 2010-03-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20110721185533/http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=108703 2011-07-21 dead The Accord Front member Abdulnasir al-Muntasirbillah was elected as governor while Taleb Mohammed Hassan from the Kurdistan Alliance was made chairman of the provincial council.http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=111408 Aswat Al Iraq 2010-03-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20110721185607/http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=111408 2011-07-21 dead In Saladin, where Tawafuq also came out first they tied in number of seats with the Iraqi National List, which forged an alliance with State of Law and the National Iraqi Project Gathering, https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/19/AR2009031902885_2.html New Alliances In Iraq Cross Sectarian Lines The Washington Post they were however eventually forced to include Tawafuq into this alliance in order to get a majority. Tawafuq member Mutashar al-Aliwi became governor while an INL member became chairman.http://www.epic-usa.org/node/5593 Governors, Heads of Councils, and Ruling Coalitions In Iraq's Provinces EPIC 2010-03-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20100407175410/http://www.epic-usa.org/node/5593 2010-04-07 dead In Muthanna were State of Law and ISCI's al-Mehraab list each won 5 seats both parties created their own alliance forming blocs of 13 seats. State of Law formed a Coalition with the National Reform Trend (3 seats), Sadrists (2 seats) and the Middle Euphrates Gathering (2 seats) while ISCI created an alliance within the al-Jumhur List (3 seats), the Gathering for Muthanna (2 seats), and the Independent National List (2 seats). The Independent Iraqi Skills Gathering which had 2 seats was split between these two blocs. However Ibrahim Salman al-Miyali, an independent which ran as part of the State of Law Coalition left and joined ISCI's block because Maliki hadn't nominated him for any important position. This gave the ISCI block a 14-seat majority and led to his election as governor and ISCI member Abd al-Latif Hassan al-Hassani being elected as chairman.http://www.kirksowell.com/Content/Documents/How%20Muthanna%20was%20Won.pdf Archived copy 2010-03-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20110713153241/http://www.kirksowell.com/Content/Documents/How%20Muthanna%20was%20Won.pdf 2011-07-13 usurped In Maysan and Wasit, the State of Law Coalition formed a coalition with ISCI. Though in most governorates State of Law tried to leave ISCI out of local governments in Maysan where they won an equal amounth of seats they decided to align with them electing Muhammad al-Sudani of the Dawa Party as governor and Hashim al-Shawki of the Iraqi Hezbollah (which was part of ISCI's List) as chairman. In Wasit, State of Law first tried to create an alliance with the Sadrists but after this broke down, they formed an alliance with ISCI. Sadrist governor Latif Hamid Turfa was re-elected as governor and ISCI's Mahmoud Abdulrida Talal was made chairman.http://www.understandingwar.org/files/Backgrounder_41.pdf Provincial Governments in Southern Iraq 2010-03-19 2011-10-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20111002092800/http://www.understandingwar.org/files/Backgrounder_41.pdf dead In Basra, State of Law's clear cut majority allowed them to form an administration on their own, appointing Jabbar Amin, as chairman and Dr. Sheltagh Aboud Sherad as governor, both were members of the Da'wa party (although Jabbar Amin belongs to the Iraq Organisation branch). However, despite their 20-seat majority in the 35-seat council, they reached out to other parties including all other parties which won seats in the Basra local council in a local unity government.http://www.niqash.org/content.php?contentTypeID=75&id=2410&lang=0 Iraq Politics and Constitution - سياسة العراق و الدستور العراقي 2010-03-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20110719054145/http://www.niqash.org/content.php?contentTypeID=75&id=2410&lang=0 2011-07-19 dead In the remaining five Shi'a governorates, State of Law succeeded in creating coalitions without ISCI. In Babil State of Law created a broad coalition with the Sadrists, the National Reform Trend, the Iraqi National List, al-Mutlaq's bloc and local parties, ISCI forming a 7-seat opposition bloc with the 2 man Independent Ansar Bloc. To create this alliance however, State of Law gave Hasan al-Zarqani and Kadum Majid Tuman, two Sadrists, the positions of governor and chairman. In Dhi Qar State of Law aligned itself with the Sadrists and the National Reform Trend, creating a 24-seat majority in the 31-seat council, ISCI and Fadhila being left out. A Dawa member: Taleb al-Hassan was appointed governor and NRT member Qusai al-Ibadi became chairman. In Karbala, the only Shi'a province were SOL did not come out first place, they aligned themselves with al-Haboubi an independent which won the most votes, the second place Hope of Al-Refedein and the Independent Free Movement, two Sadrist blocs which together took 13 seats, only ISCI's 4-seat bloc was left out of the local government. Amaleddin Majeed Hameed Kadhem of the Dawa party became governor while Mohammed Hamid al-Musawi, a Sadrist was elected chairman. In Najaf, SOL and ISCI tied with 7 seats each however SOL managed to create a 15-seat majority bloc with the NRT and two local parties, leaving the Sadrists and ISCI in the opposition. SOL member Fayad al-Shamari was appointed chairman and despite strong opposition, Adnan al-Zurfi from one of the local parties became the new governor, prompting Asaad Abu Gulal the former ISCI governor to start a legal battle against al-Zurfi. In al-Qadisiyah SOL formed a bloc with the Iraqi National List, leaving ISCI, Fadhila and the Sadrists in the opposition. Da'awa members Salim Hussein and Jubeir al-Juburi were appointed governor and chairman. Fraud allegations Allegations of election fraud came from both Sunni and Shi'a political parties. The most complaints came from Ayad Allawi's al-Iraqiya list which claimed election fraud had taken place, mostly in Baghdad, Salahaddin and al-Anbar, a spokesman of the group: Ali Nesaif claimed that "Some boxes were stolen from polling centers in Salahaddin as well as Diyala," while Kadhim Turki another Allawi ally said that they were not satisfied with the final results—particularly in Baghdad and Basra." They accused the counties powerful parties of vote rigging.Mounting Accusations of Voter Fraud in Iraq's Elections The Sadr Movement also complained about the election results, Amir Tahar al-Kinani a Sadrist spokesman released the following statement: "We have been mistreated in this election. IHEC was not fair—it was biased in favor of other lists, in the final results, we dropped to third position, while SIIC took second place. How can that happen? Our bloc and SIIC won an approximately equal number of votes in Maysan—yet we only got seven seats, while they got eight." Kinani also said their votes in Baghdad suspiciously dropped after the final results came in and he accused the Independent High Electoral Commission of making late changes to the law which benefited Maliki. He also claimed that: "There are huge differences between results announced by the electoral commission and the figures we have from our observers in some provinces."http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=859457&lang=eng_news&cate_img=83.jpg&cate_rss=news_Politics Al-Sadr candidates appeal Iraq election results 2010-02-04 2011-06-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20110629141855/http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=859457&lang=eng_news&cate_img=83.jpg&cate_rss=news_Politics dead The Iraq Awakening Coalition alleged election fraud in al-Anbar province claiming they had hundreds of documents to prove the fraud. Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi called for a vote recount in al-Anbar.Vote fraud claims in Iraq ballot Meanwhile, radical Arab Nationalist and Sunni MP Mithal al-Alusi claimed that hundreds of thousands of voters had been denied the right to vote. This was confirmed by Ahmad Challabi who claimed it was not intentional but "a shortcoming in the electoral commission's preparations". Al-Alusi however also alleged Iranian diplomats were allowed into Iraqi polling stations and accused them of interfering in the polls.Al-Maliki allies ahead in Iraq vote Both the al-Iraqiya list and the Sadr Movement contested the results in court while the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council contested the results in Baghdad while the Awakening Movements contested the results in Al Anbar. In total election committee officials received 1,000 complaints of irregularities, including 20 serious allegations of fraud and that serious violations had been reported in Anbar, Diyala, Mosul, Muthanna and in Baghdad. He however claimed that most lists provided no proof for their fraud allegations. Some voters however claimed to have witnessed fraud at the polling stations. References External links Provisional results showing lists, list numbers and percentages Category:January 2009 in Iraq