Iraq to hold parliamentary election in May

1 November 2017, 9:11 pm

Edit

The Iraqi government has decided to hold a parliamentary election on May 15 next year, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says.

The decision needs to be approved by parliament and the president at least 90 days in advance of that date before it can be confirmed, according to the electoral commission.

The commission had previously proposed the election be held on May 12.

The last election took place in April 2014 when the State of Law alliance of former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki won most of the votes but fell short of an overall majority.

Maliki ceded power to Abadi that August amid political gridlock as Islamic State group jihadists seized swathes of Iraqi territory.

— AFP