Maliki urges Iraqis to vote, warns against ceding power to ‘the corrupt and opportunistic’

BAGHDAD — Former Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki called on Iraqis to participate in upcoming parliamentary elections, describing the vote as the country’s only viable path to change and the preservation of democracy.

“If we wish to uphold this system, elections are our only path,” Maliki said in a televised address Tuesday night. “If we seek peaceful and orderly transfer of power, again, elections are the only route.”

Maliki, who heads the State of Law Coalition, urged citizens not to disengage from the political process out of frustration or disillusionment, warning that doing so would allow others to fill the void.

“If the honest, patriotic citizens of Iraq do not participate, the corrupt and opportunistic will take their place,” he said. “Elections will not stop; but without you, they will be shaped by those whose goals may not align with the nation’s will.”

The full translated transcript of Nuri Al-Maliki’s televised speech:

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.

I move forward with steady steps toward the national constitutional obligation awaiting us this year — the duty of holding national elections. Iraq, which has gone through several rounds of elections in its new era, has rooted the values of electoral participation and proven that no democratic system can truly function without periodic elections that grant the people their rightful role in managing political affairs and public life.

Establishing the people’s role in state governance begins with elections. Through them, the nation affirms its ability to guide its political, economic, and administrative future. For elections to fulfill this purpose, they must be marked by broad participation, integrity, and freedom from misuse of public funds, fraud, or any disruptions that would taint the electoral process — and by extension, the political process itself.

Democracy, the foundation of our political system and government institutions, depends entirely on elections. If we wish to uphold this system, elections are our only path. If we seek peaceful and orderly transfer of power, again, elections are the only route. We will not return to the days of coups and conspiracies that drained the will of the people and manipulated it.

Elections are both a right and a responsibility — a right that entitles every citizen to have a say in the governance of their country, and a responsibility because the nation is accountable for its own future. There is no path to shaping that future except by going to the polls.

As we approach the upcoming elections, I urge you not to be swayed by those who say, “What difference does it make if I don’t vote?” or who cast doubt on the entire political process. Yes, the system has flaws, but does boycotting elections solve anything? If the honest, patriotic citizens of Iraq do not participate, the corrupt and opportunistic will take their place. Elections will not stop; but without you, they will be shaped by those whose goals may not align with the nation’s will.

Iraq’s electoral experience is no longer new. It has seen both successes and setbacks. Overall, we have managed the democratic process in a smooth and constructive way. However, the last election saw disappointing turnout, and some scholars even issued religious guidance declaring it obligatory to participate. Many jurists agree that the people are responsible for managing their own affairs — and that can only happen by choosing representatives to speak and act on their behalf in the political arena.

So I say again, whether you support or oppose the current situation, your only option is to compete at the ballot box — if you want reform, change, accountability, or progress. You must elect a genuine parliament, one with representatives capable of legislative oversight and leadership in parliamentary work, to serve as a backbone for the government and the state.

In the future, God willing, I will speak about the risks surrounding the electoral process — including serious trends and possible threats. My aim will be to reach a national understanding and mutual agreement that we must all commit to protecting the integrity of elections and rejecting any attempts at manipulation or the use of corrupt money, which would ultimately damage both the elections and the political system.

May God grant you success.
Peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.