Iraq Holds Elections as Shiite Militias Flex Their Muscles

Hello, everyone. Today at WPR, we’re covering the throughline between China’s recently announced “red lines” in its relations with the U.S., and how attacks on minority groups’ food traditions around the world threaten their cultural identity.

But first, here’s our take on today’s top story:

Voters in Iraq are heading to the polls today to elect all 329 members of the country’s unicameral legislature. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s political alliance, the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, is widely expected to win the most votes as Sudani has earned plaudits for a construction boom and for a period of relative stability even as other parts of the Middle East have been wracked by conflict.

Once the election results are announced, negotiations over forming a ruling coalition are expected to unfold in typically tortuous fashion over a period of weeks or even months. The next government will have to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalating pressure campaign to curb the power of Iraq’s Shiite militias, many—though not all—of which are aligned to varying degrees with Iran.

The militias, collectively known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, have rapidly increased their power and influence in recent years. Political wings of the PMF dominate the current parliament and control several government ministries, allowing them to allocate lucrative government contracts at a time when state coffers are flush with cash due to relatively high prices for oil, Iraq’s key export.