Al-Abadi: The election law prevents MPs from switching sides before the government is formed.
Al-Abadi: The election law prevents MPs from switching sides before the government is formed.
11-13-2025
The legal expert Ahmed al –
Abadi confirmed on Thursday that the Iraqi election law has established clear regulations preventing winning candidates from switching political blocs before the formation of the new government.
Al-Abadi told Al-Maalomah that “Article 19 of the election law explicitly states that no winning candidate, party, or political bloc within an open list may switch to another coalition, party, or bloc except after the formation of the government.” He explained that “the purpose of this provision is to limit the phenomenon of candidates switching and the political deals that occurred after the results were announced in previous elections.”
He clarified that “the inclusion of this article was intended to ensure the stability of political balances within parliament and prevent manipulation of the voters’ will,” noting that “the same article serves as the legal reference for determining the largest bloc tasked with forming the next government.”
He further explained that “the law does not obligate winning candidates to vote or attend parliamentary sessions in favor of the bloc to which they belong, which leaves the door open for political understandings within the council after the government is formed.”
almaalomah.me
