BAGHDAD / ISTANBUL 

With his coalition’s victory in Iraq’s parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani continues his political ascent, crossing a defining milestone in his career backed by broad popular legitimacy and strong leverage.

At first, the 55-year-old politician was seen merely as an executive figure who owed his position to political consensus.

But today, Sudani has become the political engineer of the victory of his Reconstruction and Development Coalition in parliamentary elections that saw a 56.11% voter turnout.

On Wednesday, Iraq’s electoral commission announced that Sudani’s coalition had secured 1.317 million votes, placing it in the lead nationwide.

The coalition came out on top in nine provinces, including the capital Baghdad, turning Sudani into a powerful and influential electoral figure.

“We congratulate the coalition’s first-place victory in the parliamentary elections,” Sudani said in a televised speech, following the announcement of preliminary results.

Final results will be announced after the examination of appeals.  

Consensus nominee

Holding a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and a master’s in project management, Sudani has built a career distinguished by solid administrative and governmental experience.

He was first elected as a member of the Maysan Provincial Council, later serving as governor of the province in southern Iraq from 2005 to 2010, gaining hands-on experience in local and service-oriented administration.

Sudani later held several ministerial posts focused on public welfare and services, including minister of human rights and minister of labor and social affairs, in addition to serving as acting minister for key ministries such as migration and industry and minerals.

At the parliamentary level, Sudani kept his seat in three consecutive elections in 2014, 2018, and 2021, under the State of Law Coalition.

In late 2019, he resigned from the Dawa Party and founded the Al-Furatayn Movement, taking the first step toward political independence.

When Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s movement withdrew from politics in 2022, Sudani re-emerged as the consensus nominee to head the coalition government, gaining the support of leading Shia blocs and key regional stakeholders.  

Popular legitimacy

Since taking office as prime minister in October 2022, Sudani’s tenure has been marked by a strong focus on executive performance and public services.

He achieved notable progress, particularly in maintaining financial and economic stability, effectively managing oil revenue surpluses, and implementing plans to strengthen the local currency.

Sudani also launched major infrastructure, electricity, and investment projects, resulting in visible improvements in public services and revitalized urban development across the provinces.

On the foreign policy front, he has sought to balance Iraq’s regional and international relations, working to position Baghdad as a mediator in regional affairs.

Widely viewed as a person of integrity with high administrative ability, Sudani’s coalition victory gives him broad popular legitimacy and strong leverage in upcoming political negotiations.  

Next government

Through years in office, Sudani has evolved from a consensus choice into a key political player with real electoral clout.

He is now a key player in shaping local governments and a top contender for a second term as prime minister, despite expected competition from former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law Coalition.

According to preliminary results from the electoral commission, Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Alliance ranked first in Baghdad with 411,026 votes.

It was followed by former Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi’s Progress Party with 284,035 votes, while Maliki’s State of Law Coalition came third with 228,103 votes.

Sources close to Sudani’s coalition said it has likely become the largest bloc, with around 50 seats, giving the premier the upper hand in government formation negotiations.

In Iraq, no single party can form a government alone in the 329-member parliament, forcing political blocs to build alliances in a process that often takes months.

Power in Iraq is traditionally divided among the country’s main communities: the presidency goes to the Kurds, the premiership to the Shias, and the speakership of parliament to the Sunnis.