Ex Iraqi PM’s electoral list withdraws from October elections

He urged other political parties to take the same position. 
Ayad Allawi served as Iraq's premier from 2004-2005. (Photo: Hadi Mizban/AP)
Ayad Allawi served as Iraq's premier from 2004-2005. (Photo: Hadi Mizban/AP)

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi Forum list, headed by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, on Wednesday announced its withdrawal from the October legislative elections.

In withdrawing, the party joins a wave of others who have pulled out of the vote, including influential Shia cleric Moqtada al Sadr, the Iraqi Communist Party, and Saleh al-Mutlaq.

In a press conference on Wednesday in Baghdad, Judge Wael Abdullatif, the deputy of the Forum, announced the decision. The electoral list was headed by Allawi, a former prime minister and seasoned politician.

Abdullatif said he expects very low turnout in the planned elections, which would result in a “weak government.” 

He urged other political parties to take the same position. 

It is not yet clear how the latest withdrawals by major parties will affect the planned vote. Government officials, including Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi regularly reiterate that the election will be held on time – Oct. 10.

Observers had expected Sadr’s political movement to be the biggest winner as they were in 2018, winning a majority of seats in parliament. 

Election officials have rejected the cleric’s withdrawal, saying the deadline had passed, but Sadr – a kingmaker in Iraq’s political system – also pulled support for “current and future governments” in a televised speech.