Iraqi parliamentary election, 2005

Iraqi parliamentary election, 2005 The December 2005 Iraqi parliamentary elections elected the Council of Representatives that drafted and implemented the transition from the Interim Government to a permanent administration following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Held under the Transitional Administrative Law for Iraq, the vote followed the adoption of the Iraqi Constitution of 2005 and occurred amid ongoing Iraq War violence, sectarian conflict, and international diplomacy involving the United States Department of Defense, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, and regional actors such as Iran and Turkey.

Background

The election followed the earlier Iraqi legislative election, January 2005 for the Iraqi Transitional Government and the subsequent Iraqi constitutional referendum, 2005. Key figures included President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, and Iraqi Kurdistan leaders such as Masoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani (dual role). The political environment was shaped by the U.S. occupation of Iraq, the role of the Coalition Provisional Authority, and insurgent campaigns by groups such as Al-Qaeda in Iraq and militias linked to the Mahdi Army. International mediation involved actors like the United Nations Security Council, NATO, and the European Union.

Electoral system

The elections used a proportional representation system under the Modified Sainte-Laguë method applied to the whole country as a single constituency for 275 seats in the Council of Representatives of Iraq. The legal framework derived from the Transitional Administrative Law and the new Iraqi Constitution of 2005. Voting rules considered displaced populations and internally displaced persons from events including the 2006–2008 Iraqi insurgency precursors, and security arrangements involved the Multinational Force in Iraq and the Iraqi security forces. International observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Arab League monitored the process.

Campaign and parties

Major electoral lists included the United Iraqi Alliance led by Shi'a politicians such as Ibrahim al-Jaafari and clerical figures linked to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the secular Iraqi List headed by Ayad Allawi, and the Kurdistan Alliance combining the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan with leaders Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani. Sunni Arab participation was organized by coalitions including the Iraqi Islamic Party, the Iraqi Consensus Front, and later the Sahwa. Smaller groups and movements included the Iraqi Communist Party, the Assyrian Democratic Movement, the Iyad Allawi-linked Iraqi National List, and various Islamist and nationalist formations. Campaigning was affected by bombings attributed to Al-Qaeda in Iraq, assassinations linked to Mahdi Army tensions, and targeted attacks in Baghdad, Mosul, Basra, and Kirkuk. International engagement included advisement from the United States Agency for International Development, the International Republican Institute, and election support by the National Democratic Institute.

Results

The United Iraqi Alliance won the largest number of seats, followed by the Kurdistan Alliance and the Iraqi List. The distribution of seats reflected sectarian and ethnic voting patterns across governorates like Baghdad Governorate, Basra Governorate, Nineveh Governorate, and Dhi Qar Governorate. Notable elected figures included members from parties such as the Iraqi Islamic Party, the Iraqi Communist Party, the Assyrian Democratic Movement, and independent representatives. Parliamentary dynamics involved blocs taking stances on issues including the Status of Forces Agreement (2008), oil law debates relating to the Ministry of Oil (Iraq), and de-Ba'athification policies tied to the legacy of the Ba'ath Party. International reaction included statements from the United Nations Secretary-General, the European Union foreign policy apparatus, and governments such as the United States and United Kingdom.

Aftermath and government formation

Post-election negotiations led to the selection of a new prime minister through parliamentary coalitions, with contention between figures such as Ibrahim al-Jaafari and rivals like Nouri al-Maliki. The process involved consultations with President Jalal Talabani, Kurdish leaders Masoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani, and international stakeholders including the United States Department of State and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq. The resulting government faced challenges from insurgent groups including Al-Qaeda in Iraq and political pressure from groups such as the Sadr Movement and the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq. Subsequent governance addressed security reform of the Iraqi Armed Forces, constitutional implementation under the Iraqi Constitution of 2005, provincial powers under discussions about federalism in Iraq, and reconstruction efforts funded by international donors and institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Category:Elections in Iraq