Local governments begin to take shape

Voting took place on Monday in several provinces to elect governors and other key positions in the provincial councils. But there are still several vacant posts that need to be filled.

The provincial powers law requires newly elected provincial councils to hold their first session 15 days following IHEC’s ratification of the election results, which happened on January 21. In addition to the governor, there are 4 other posts that need to be voted on by provincial councils: the head of the provincial council, the deputy head, and two deputy governors.

Nine provinces have so far been able to elect their governor, provincial council head, and deputy head. Some were also able to elect the deputy governors. The failure to reach political agreements in Kirkuk, Babil, Diwaniya, Diyala, and Maysan meant that quorum could not be reached in these provincial councils.