Iraq to hold early federal elections in June next year

Iraq will hold early federal elections in June next year, the country's Prime Minister said on Friday.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said in a televised statement that federal elections would be held on June 6 next year, a year earlier than scheduled.

The announcement fulfills a promise made by al-Kadhimi when he took office to meet a key demand by anti-government protesters.

Protesters called for early elections and a reformed electoral law when they took to the streets in demonstrations that erupted last October.

The rallies, led by Iraqi youth, swept over Baghdad and the Iraqi south, decrying rampant corruption in the country.

More than 500 protesters were killed in the demonstrations as Iraqi security forces used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse crowds.

Pressure from the protests lead to the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi and Al-Kadhimi came to power following a political consensus in May.

It's unclear under what electoral law the vote will be held.

The parliament's court now must officially vote on the new date but political differences prevail over the implementation of a new electoral law passed late last year.

Parliament approved the law in December, aiming to give political independents a better chance of winning seats in parliament and weaken the hold of ruling elites.

If implemented, the legislation would change each of the country’s 18 provinces into several electoral districts, with one legislator elected per 100,000 people.

Crucially, the law also prevents parties from running on unified lists, which in the past has helped them sweep all the seats in a specific province.

The May 2018 elections drew abysmal voter turnout and were tainted with allegations of fraud.