Mesut OzcanAbstract: On the December 9, 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi declared victory against the Islamic State (IS) and a dark chapter in the history of the country was closed. Having witnessed the worst in many respects, the Iraqi people have great expectations from the 2018 elections. Iraqi politicians are also aware of this fact and there are signs that they are preparing for the upcoming elections. Relative stability and the prospect of stable oil prices are positive inputs for 2018. The destruction left behind during the fight against IS and the rebuilding of the liberated cities and towns, along with encouraging trust between different components of Iraqi society are challenges ahead for the Iraqi government and other political figures. Fixing Iraqi problems requires much energy and money with a long-term vision. The efforts of Iraqi politicians alone will not suffice; the commitment of international and regional actors is a must. The position of Prime Minister Abadi is stronger than three years ago, but we may see lots of political bargaining on the road to elections in May 2018.