Despite nationalist rhetoric, Iraq’s political elite have reversed key electoral reforms to maintain control. With voter turnout plummeting and “consensus governments” stifling accountability, the 2026 elections risk becoming a mere formality unless independent activists can successfully form a meaningful parliamentary opposition to challenge the status quo.
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The proposed amendments allow religious authorities to govern marriage, inheritance, and custody, potentially lowering the marriage age to nine. Despite intense opposition from “Coalition 188,” the bill’s momentum marks a strategic effort by Islamist parties to solidify sectarian identity and clerical influence over Iraqi civil society.