Latest news with #SCHR
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
SCHR forecasts over 50% turnout for Iraq's November elections
Shafaq News – Baghdad Voter turnout in Iraq's upcoming November 11 parliamentary elections is expected to exceed 50%, the Strategic Center for Human Rights (SCHR) projected on Saturday. SCHR Deputy Head Hazem al-Rudaini stated that the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has approved 7,926 candidates—5,701 men and 2,225 women—representing a nearly 250% increase from the 3,227 who ran in 2021. 'This level of participation is likely to energize voters nationwide,' al-Rudaini said, noting that turnout will now be calculated based solely on biometric registrations under Law No. 4 of 2023. Iraq's biometric voter base currently includes about 22 million citizens. In contrast, turnout in 2021 was measured against a broader pool of 25 million, which included both biometric and non-biometric registrations under the previous system, he explained.
Shafaq News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq elections: Parties entitled to twice the number of parliamentary seats
Shafaq News/ Registered political parties may nominate up to two candidates per parliamentary seat, regardless of the total number of competing parties, Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) affirmed on Monday. IHEC spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai told Shafaq News that 335 political parties are currently licensed and registered, with more than 100 having expressed intent to participate in the November 2025 parliamentary elections. 'Currently, 61 parties are still in the process of formation,' al-Ghalai said, adding that 66 political coalitions have formally registered with IHEC's Department of Political Parties and Organizations Affairs. Among them are six that recently updated their registration data and five newly established alliances. Meanwhile, the Strategic Center for Human Rights (SCHR) raised concerns over the growing gap between the size of Iraq's 329-seat parliament and its rapidly expanding party landscape. SCHR Deputy Head Hazem al-Rudaini noted that 333 parties are formally recognized under the 2015 Parties Law, with over 50 more awaiting final approval. He called for a legislative review of the law after ten years of implementation, suggesting that any party failing to contest two consecutive election cycles should have its license revoked. 'The goal of forming a party should be active participation in the political and electoral processes.' The official also recommended that political groups maintain offices in multiple provinces to show national reach, and urged regular monitoring of their rhetoric, which he said often includes calls to boycott elections and withdraw from the political process.
Shafaq News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
More parties than MPs: Iraq urged to reform law
Shafaq News/ Iraq now has more political parties than seats in its 329-member parliament, the Strategic Center for Human Rights (SCHR) said on Monday. In a statement, SCHR's Deputy Head Hazem al-Rudaini noted that 333 parties are officially registered with the Political Parties and Organizations Department under the 2015 Parties Law, with over 50 more still in the formation stage. As the number of political parties has surpassed the number of parliamentarians, al-Rudaini called for amending the law after ten years of implementation. He proposed revoking the license of any group that fails to participate in two consecutive election cycles. 'The goal of forming a party should be active participation in the political and electoral processes.' The official recommended that political groups maintain offices in multiple provinces to show national reach, and urged regular monitoring of their rhetoric, which he said often includes calls to boycott elections and withdraw from the political process. 80 political parties and 71 electoral alliances intend to participate in the upcoming elections in November 2025, according to IHEC data. Registration remains open until May 14.
