With voting in Iraq complete, government formation begins
By Bridget Toomey | November 13, 2025 |
Now that voters have cast their ballots in Iraq’s 2025 parliamentary elections, the country is entering the government formation phase, which culminates in the selection of the prime minister and the formation of his cabinet.
Some reports indicate that many Iraqis have become disillusioned with the electoral process because they believe the voting results are of secondary importance. Instead, many judge that the real division of power is determined by the negotiations that are part of government formation and carried out at the elite level without popular involvement. Despite this reported skepticism, the 2025 election saw a relatively high turnout, reaching 56 percent compared to roughly 41 percent in 2021.
The first official step in Iraq’s government formation is the ratification of the election by the Federal Supreme Court, which officially concludes the “electoral phase,” even though voting has already finished.
Before ratification, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) must resolve any complaints about the voting and finalize the results. The window to file complaints began when the polls opened on November 11 and ended at the close of business hours on November 12. The IHEC announced 101 complaints. Of these, 44 were from the special vote on November 9, which is the day security forces and internally displaced people cast their ballots, and 57 were from the regular voting day on November 11. After these complaints are resolved, candidates and parties can file appeals before the Judicial Panel for Elections. Once these appeals are adjudicated, the Federal Supreme Court ratifies the election.
https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2025/11/with-voting-in-iraq-complete-government-formation-begins.php