Khazali urges Iraqis to vote ‘with awareness and responsibility’ in November elections

BAGHDAD — Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq Secretary-General Qais Al-Khazali on Friday urged Iraqis to take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections set for Nov. 11, calling for participation “with awareness and responsibility.”

“Democracy is one of the most important achievements after 2003, but more important than that is preserving and protecting it,” Khazali said in a speech.

He described elections as “the backbone of the state,” warning that their absence would “paralyze the legislative institution and turn the government into a mere caretaker body, depriving it of its vital powers in making national decisions.”

Excerpts from Qais Al-Khazali speech:

Democracy is one of the most important achievements after 2003, but more important than that is preserving and protecting it from disruption or distortion.

Elections are not merely a periodic procedure but the backbone of the state, and their absence means paralyzing the legislative institution and turning the government into a mere caretaker body, depriving it of its vital powers in making national decisions.

I call on all citizens to participate in the elections with awareness and responsibility, and to carefully choose candidates who represent the aspirations of the people and have the ability to truly serve citizens, away from empty titles and slogans.

What is required is not only to preserve the democratic form, but also its essence, which is based on the peaceful transfer of power through the ballot box.