Iraq does not need ‘normalization,’ Prime Minister al-Sudani says

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said on Wednesday that Iraq does not need “normalization,” stressing that the term has no place in the country’s political vocabulary.

Speaking during a Christmas Mass at Mar Youssef Church, al-Sudani said that commemorating Christmas represents an additional affirmation of the strength and cohesion of Iraq’s social fabric.

He added that the government is working with all available means to safeguard and protect symbols of national unity, underlining the importance of coexistence among Iraq’s religious and social communities.

Al-Sudani also said Iraq is seeking to strengthen its position as an oasis of stability, once again reiterating that the country does not require “normalization.”

Iraq concludes voting
Iraq completed the general voting phase of the 2025 parliamentary elections on Tuesday, as polling stations closed across all provinces at 6 pm local time. This followed the special voting round held earlier this month on November 9, during which members of the security forces cast their ballots.

The elections determine the composition of Iraq’s 329-seat Council of Representatives, a process that has taken place regularly since 2005. Officials reported that the voting proceeded under standard security and monitoring measures, with no major disruptions recorded during the day.

Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani praised the electoral process, describing it as a step that reflects the will of the Iraqi people and their pursuit of stability. He said the completion of the elections represents the government’s fulfillment of one of its primary commitments under its executive agenda.

Iraq’s electoral commission reported a 56.11 percent voter turnout and announced that the most votes were garnered by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Alliance.