Iraq's supreme court on Sunday approved the final results of May's general election, giving winning political parties a three month deadline to form a new government.
The nation's fledgling democracy has been paralysed since the vote, which was quickly followed by complaints of fraud and vote rigging.
Irregularities led to a nationwide recount that showed little difference from the initial tally.
"The court has issued a decision to ratify the results of the parliamentary election," a court spokesman said in a statement confirming approval of the results.
Populist Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr's victory still stands. His Sairoon (Marching Forward) bloc kept all of its 54 seats. Consequently, he is in a strong position to form Iraq's next government but will need coalition partners to garner an overall majority in the 329-member parliament.
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Read more:
Iraq forms committee to investigate corruption amid ongoing unrest
Iraq completes election recount
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In June, MPs ordered a manual recount after concerns were raised about the voting system, which relied on machines to read ballots digitally linked to each voter's ID registration card and fingerprint.
Various lawmakers and voters complained of machines breaking down and alleged wide-scale fraud in the initial election results, which triggered protests calling for the recount. Yet, the results remained the same in the contested cities of the country's 18 provinces.
Iraq has had three parliaments with four-year terms since dictator Saddam Hussein was toppled in the 2003 US-led invasion.
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PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
