Following Iraq’s recent parliamentary elections, the nation braces for a complex and potentially protracted process of government formation. Incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, whose coalition emerged as the largest bloc, faces the formidable task of securing support from other parties, particularly within the Shia majority, to secure a second term. Preliminary results indicate that his coalition lacks the majority needed to form a government outright, setting the stage for weeks or even months of intense negotiations.