Photo Source: Kurdistan 24 By Naveed Qazi | Editor, Globe Up Front The May 12, 2018 parliamentary election in Iraq was described by Western media as a ‘landmark victory of democracy’ after years of instability and sectarian violence. It was the first national vote since the defeat of the Islamic State in Mosul in 2017, and the government sealed airports and land borders during polling for security reasons, according to Associated Press and Reuters. The election was contested across Iraq’s fragmented political landscape, with Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish blocs vying for influence. The Sunni vote, traditionally concentrated among parties such as The Arab Project, Mutahidoon (United Project) and the Wataniya alliance, had diminished compared to earlier elections. Analysts noted that Sunni parties no longer commanded the numbers they once did, reflecting demographic shifts and political disillusionment, as Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye reported. Meanwhile, the Nasr alliance led by H...