The EU: We did not detect fraud or violations in the Iraqi elections

The European Union Election Observation Mission in Iraq announced on Tuesday that it did not find “manipulation or violations” during the process, but it did monitor an attempt by armed elements outside the authority of the state to intimidate the candidates.

“The Iraqi (early parliamentary) elections were well managed and there are no manipulations or violations in them,” said the head of the mission, Viola von Kramon, during a press conference in Baghdad.

The European Union participated in monitoring the Iraqi elections with 100 observers, 12 experts, and 59 diplomats.

“The mission observed a low voter turnout,” Cramon added.

This fits with the 41 percent turnout” announced by the (official) Iraqi Electoral Commission.

The European official considered that “freedom of expression was respected during the elections.”

“The Iraqis were able to vote freely amid electoral procedures that took place properly, with a percentage of 95 percent, according to observers.”

But Cramon pointed out that “some armed elements outside the authority of the state (she did not name them) tried to intimidate and intimidate the candidates during the election campaign.

Especially women candidates, and this negatively affected the electoral competition.”

On Monday, the Electoral Commission published the names of the winners on its website.

Without referring to the political blocs they represented in elections, the turnout was 41 percent, the lowest since 2005.

Based on the names of the winners, the official agency stated that the Sadrist bloc topped the results with 73 seats out of 329.

While the “Progress” bloc, led by the dissolved Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi (Sunni), won 38 seats.

In third place, the State of Law bloc led by former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki came with 37 seats.

The elections, which were held on two days (Friday for the security forces, and Sunday for civilians), came a year ahead of schedule, after widespread protests in Iraq.

This started in early October 2019, and lasted for more than a year, and overthrew the previous government led by Adel Abdul-Mahdi in late 2019.