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Iraq’s Election Reshuffles Shia Power Dynamics While Sectarian Balance Holds
Preliminary results show Shia parties collectively securing approximately 185 of 329 parliamentary seats, broadly consistent with their previous representation. Kurdish parties won around 60 seats, while Sunni parties captured 70-72…
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Arivan
Tomorrow’s Iraqi general election: high stakes for KRG cabinet formation and Erbil–Baghdad relations
Iraqis, including voters in the Kurdistan Region, are heading to the polls in parliamentary elections. For the Kurdistan Region, the balance of power between the two ruling parties, the KDP…
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Arivan
How ‘private sector’ patronage networks are reshaping politics in the Kurdistan Region
As the Iraqi parliamentary elections slated for November 11 approach, the two ruling Kurdish parties – the KDP and PUK – are expected to secure a large majority of the…
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Arivan
In Northeast Syria, Christian Schools Win Fight to Keep Damascus Curriculum, Complicate SDF Plans
The heads of Christian denominations in northeast Syria announced an agreement with the SDF-run administration that allows church-run schools to continue teaching the Syrian Ministry of Education curriculum during the…
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Arivan
After 11 Years, Iraq’s Grand Mufti Returns as the Power Map Shifts
Iraq’s prominent Sunni cleric Rafi’ al-Rifa’i, widely known as the “Grand Mufti of Iraq,” returned to Baghdad after 11 years in exile, marking a significant shift in the country’s sectarian…
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Arivan
Turkey Locks In “Oil-for-Water” Mechanism With Iraq as Ankara Expands Regional Leverage
The Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan signed an executive financing and implementation mechanism for water cooperation, witnessed by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani. The…
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Arivan
How the Turkey–PKK peace track actually moves
The current process follows a clear sequence: political declarations to halt hostilities, verifiable steps on the ground, certification by state security institutions, and finally a legal settlement in Parliament. Each…
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Arivan
Iraqi Election 2025: Kurdish Parties Seat Modeling and Scenarios
Iraqi Election 2025: Kurdish Parties Seat Modeling and Scenarios Interactive model shows how Kurdish parties could win—or lose—seats in November’s parliamentary vote When Iraqi voters head to the polls on…
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Arivan
What PKK veteran Sabri Ok’s role tells us about the Turkey–PKK peace process
On 26 October 2025, at a press conference on the southern edge of the Qandil Mountains near Ranya, in territory controlled by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), veteran PKK…
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Arivan
Iraq’s 2025 Elections: The Battle for Prime Minister and the Militia Question
On 11 November 2025, Iraq faces another constitutional test whose outcome will, as in every cycle, redistribute power, positions, and decision-making. What matters most will unfold after ballots are counted:…
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