On April 30th, Iraqis will be called upon to elect a new Parliament. In view of the dramatic crisis gripping the country, the elections will be taking place under most adverse conditions. The crumbling of previous alliances and the fragmented political spectrum are exacerbating the uncertainty among the population and reinforcing doubts that political change is indeed possible. The author analyszes the current situation in Iraq and provides an overview of the most important political actors in the context of the elections.