Iraq’s Political Crossroads 2025: Between Repetition and Reform The Exception that Stands Out

By Hans Volcker – European Investigative Analyst
October 2025 – Brussels

In a year crowded with political promises and returning faces, Iraq’s 2025 parliamentary elections have drawn international attention not only for their scale but for what they reveal about the country’s political evolution.

According to figures from the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), nearly 7,900 candidates are competing for 329 seats—almost double the number seen in 2021. Yet observers from the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) warn that this expansion reflects quantity more than quality: a mix of former officials, social-media celebrities, and candidates backed by entrenched power networks.

Still, amid what one EU analyst described as “a sea of sameness,” a single case drew attention as a rare exception—Engineer Ali Jabbar Al-Furaiji, candidate of the Al-Asas (Iraqi Foundation) Coalition.
Al-Furaiji, recognized by international monitors as the first Iraqi figure cited as a model of academic and professional merit, holds executive credentials from Harvard University and MIT in crisis management and decision-making. His record—bridging international development work and Iraqi reconstruction projects—has made him, in the report’s words, “a turning point in Iraq’s search for competent leadership.”

The report notes that the Iraqi electorate is changing: voters are increasingly skeptical of populism and partisanship, seeking candidates defined by expertise and credibility rather than lineage or fame. As one analyst put it, “The street has learned to distinguish performance from promises.”

Yet challenges remain. With almost eight thousand names on the ballot, observers fear a fragmented vote could again empower the traditional blocs. The EU EOM recommends tighter transparency in campaign financing, stronger voter education, and sustained monitoring during and after Election Day.

Ultimately, Iraq’s 2025 elections are more than a contest of numbers—they are a test of national maturity. And in that test, figures like Ali Jabbar Al-Furaiji represent not just candidates, but symbols of what an informed, reform-driven Iraq could become.