Peregraf- The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has announced that 837 candidates have been barred from running in the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections, set for November 11, 2025. The exclusions reflect a sweeping vetting process aimed at ensuring compliance with legal, procedural, and integrity standards.
IHEC spokesperson Jumana Ghalai told Peregraf that the disqualified candidates fall under multiple categories:
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183 excluded by decisions of their political alliances or parties.
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130 removed for other unspecified reasons.
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293 barred under the Accountability and Justice Law.
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90 disqualified due to criminal or judicial rulings.
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96 rejected for incomplete application documents.
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20 excluded by the Integrity Commission.
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11 found to have forged educational documents.
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3 withdrew voluntarily.
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5 removed following their deaths.
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6 disqualified for being affiliated with the Ministry of Interior.
The rulings come as Iraq prepares for its sixth parliamentary elections since 2003. Campaigning began on October 3 and will run until November 8, with more than 21.4 million registered voters—including over 3 million in the Kurdistan Region—eligible to cast ballots.
Across Iraq, 7,768 candidates remain in the race for 329 parliamentary seats. Men make up 71% (5,520 candidates) of the field, while women represent 29% (2,248 candidates). In the Kurdistan Region, 303 candidates are competing, backed by major parties, smaller movements, and independents.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leads with 88 candidates, followed by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) with 71. Other competitors include Rawti Halwest (Stance Movement) with 32, New Generation with 25, the People’s Front with 20, the Kurdistan Islamic Union with 16, the Kurdistan Justice Group with 14, the Social Democratic Party with 13, and the Iraqi Turkmen Front with nine. Additionally, 15 independents are contesting seats.
The Kurdistan Region has 46 seats allocated in parliament, including two Christian quota seats—one in Erbil and another in Duhok. Sulaymaniyah, however, has no minority quota seats.
IHEC has emphasized that strict adherence to campaign rules is crucial in the coming weeks to ensure a transparent and fair electoral process.