Coalition led by Iraqi PM Sudani comes first in Iraq’s election, commission says

A coalition led by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani came first in Iraq's parliamentary election, the Independent High Electoral Commission said on Thursday.

His coalition received 1.317 million votes in Tuesday's election, the commission said.

Reuters reported earlier that Sudani placed first, citing two electoral commission officials with knowledge of the results.

Sudani was seeking a second term in Tuesday's election, but many disillusioned young voters saw the vote simply as a vehicle for established parties to divide Iraq's oil wealth. 

However, Sudani tried to cast himself as the leader who could make Iraq a success after years of instability, arguing he had moved against established parties that brought him to power.

No party can form a government on its own in Iraq’s 329-member legislature, so parties build alliances with other groups to become an administration, a fraught process that often takes many months.

The final total turnout in Iraq's parliamentary election reached 56.11%, the electoral commission said earlier on Wednesday.

“The voter turnout is clear evidence of another success, reflected in the restoration of confidence in the political system,” Sudani said in a televised speech following the announcement of the initial results.