President Rashid urges Iraqis to vote, calls elections a path to stability

BAGHDAD — Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on Monday urged citizens to take part in Tuesday’s parliamentary elections, describing the vote as a pivotal step toward “peace, stability, and development.”

“We stand today at the threshold of a new and important phase in our path… through the conduct of legislative elections,” Rashid said in a statement, reaffirming Iraq’s commitment to “constitutional democratic political life and the peaceful transfer of power.”

The president said “effective and broad participation in the elections is our only path to correcting mistakes, addressing shortcomings, developing our political system, and preventing dictatorship and the monopolization of power.”

Sunday’s special voting allowed more than 1.3 million security personnel and 26,000 displaced voters to cast their ballots. The Independent High Electoral Commission reported turnout of 82.52%, with more than 235,000 eligible participants abstaining.

Turnout in recent general elections has been notably low. The 2018 vote saw 44.5% participation — one of the lowest since 2003 — while the 2021 election, held after mass anti-government protests, recorded just 41%. That figure is widely viewed as inflated, as turnout is calculated based only on registered biometric voters rather than the total number of eligible citizens.

Statement from Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid’s media office:

We stand today at the threshold of a new and important phase in our path toward establishing peace, stability, and development in our country through the conduct of legislative elections, affirming our commitment to constitutional democratic political life and the peaceful transfer of power.

Our people have proven themselves worthy of continuing their civilizational achievements and have presented a democratic model of coexistence among its various components and orientations, while preserving the right to differ, object, and freely express opinions.

Effective and broad participation in the elections is our only path to correcting mistakes, addressing shortcomings, developing our political system, and preventing dictatorship and the monopolization of power.

Voting is both a right and a national duty. At the Presidency of the Republic, we have worked to support all parties involved in implementing the electoral process and have been keen to ensure a fair and competitive environment.

We call on all voters to approach their choices with realism, honesty, and integrity as they select candidates for the Council of Representatives who will serve as vigilant guardians of their rights and interests.

We will work to support the next Council of Representatives in legislating important laws, especially those that activate constitutional provisions to complete the institutional construction of the state and form a strong and capable new federal government that meets citizens’ aspirations for security, social justice, economic development, job opportunities, public services, and the preservation of Iraq’s unity, independence, and sovereignty. We also aim to build a stable, constitutional relationship based on cooperation with the Kurdistan Regional Government.