Leaders of Iraqi political forces sign electoral Code of Conduct in order to protect elections

On Wednesday, 15 September 2021, the President of the Republic of Iraq, Barham Salih convened an expanded meeting of the Iraqi political forces. The meeting was attended by Iraq's Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, leaders and representatives of political forces participating in the elections, the Head and the members of the Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq (IHEC) and UN Special Representative, Ms. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. The meeting took place at Baghdad Palace.

At the meeting, leaders of the Iraqi political forces signed the electoral Code of Conduct that was presented by President Salih on the rules that must be abided by Iraqi political parties in order to ensure the vote was free and fair and that there was no fraud or manipulation.

The Code stressed the importance of avoiding conflicts and restoring voter confidence in local ballots to motivate higher voter turnout. However, it emphasized the need to provide equal opportunities and protection for all the candidates. It would be subject to public discussion and social actors in all the Iraqi governorates to improve the electoral process.   

During the meeting, Iraqi President Barham Salih said that the country's October election is a decisive and historical election as it is based on the Iraqi national decision to conduct an early election in order to overcome the political crisis that swept our country. The election provides a crucial and historical opportunity to bring our trajectory back on track and to work toward undertaking the real and meaningful reforms that meet our people's demands for having a decent life, he asserted.

The electoral Code of Conduct emphasizes the respect of the Constitution, the legal regulations as well as creating stable and optimal conditions for the elections, President Salih continued, these include providing equal opportunity for the candidates, and in this regard, the instructions issued by IHEC should be adhered to, and irregularities such as fraud, vote-buying, and voter intimidation mustn't be allowed.

 If the Iraqi political forces are committed to adhere to the Code of the Conduct of the political parties, the success of the electoral process will be ensured, the President said, and Iraqis and the international community are watching us, and it is our hope that we fulfil our responsibility and country's next election will be a democratic model that ensures the peaceful transfer of power.

Furthermore, elections provide a crucial and historical opportunity that we hope to bring the trajectory back on track and to work towards undertaking the real and meaningful reforms that meet our people's demands to live the life of freedom and dignity, he underlined, while hailing the efforts made by the IHEC for organizing the elections.

Meanwhile, supporting the IHECs independence as well as making it possible to play its constitutional role in ensuring free and fair elections was the responsibility of all, he added. The role of the UN team supporting the IHEC and the electoral process, aiming to create right conditions that ensure free and fair elections was also appreciated by the President.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said that the electoral Code of Conduct is an important document that deserves the support, and it is a document of conscience that all must adhere to. Iraqis have no choice but to hold and succeed this election, and they have to accept the elections' results in good faith, and the government will not take sides but it supports the free expression of the will of the electors, he added.

Moreover, the IHEC played a major role in creating right conditions for the country's elections so it deserves to be appreciated, and the Iraqi government had discharged all its obligations towards the IHEC, he said, while there is a need to accept the elections' results, and all have responsibility to provide public service for all the Iraqi, and the mistakes of the past must not allow to be occur again.

Leaders and representatives of political forces emphasized how important it was to adhere to the electoral Code of Conduct and work towards stepping all the collective efforts in order to ensure a secure and stable situation, support the Electoral Commission to ensure the full success of its mission and ensure the voters' right to choose their representatives freely.



PUKmedia / Iraqi Presidency