SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi Civil National Front led by Ayad Allawi said on Saturday voter turnout in Iraq’s elections did not exceed 12 percent, calling on the federal court to not ratify the results.
Allawi said in a press conference that his movement did not take part in the elections due to corruption and foreign interference.
“The voter turnout announced by the electoral commission is unreasonable and did not exceed 12%,” Allawi added.
Iraq held early parliamentary election on October 10. Voter turnout was 41%, a record low in the post-Saddam Hussein era signaling widespread distrust of the country’s leaders and the vote for a new parliament. That’s down from 44% in the 2018 elections, which was an all-time low.
Shia Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s party was the biggest winner in the election, increasing the number of seats he holds in parliament.
Allawi, who was interim prime minister from 2004 to 2005, further said a national conference should be held to address issues that may result from the elections.
“We have reached the point of war and there are parties threatening other parties,” Allawi added.
“The minority participated in the elections has no right to determine the fate of the majority that boycotted the polls.”
Deputy head of the movement Nadim al-Jabri called on President Barham Salih and the federal court to not approve the election results, as the turnout did not reach 50 percent.
On Wednesday, the Iraqi electoral commission said it would announce final results for the general election after 20 days.
