Iraqi President Barham Salih said that the parliamentary elections in Iraq tomorrow, Sunday, are an opportunity to build a capable state, stressing the call for Iraqis to participate massively in the elections.
On the eve of the start of the elections - in a speech today, Saturday - he called on Iraqis to make this a national moment to correct mistakes, face major challenges, strike corruption, achieve justice in granting opportunities to citizens, and work to review the constitution and enhance the country's stability and sovereignty, considering that the desired reform is achieved by invocation. to the people.
In his speech, Saleh referred to the significant changes made to the election laws in response to the demands of the popular protests that have taken place in many regions of Iraq since the end of 2019 to demand reforms.
He pointed out that the elections are supervised by a new independent commission composed of Iraqi judges, and that new laws and regulations have been put in place in an effort to ensure the integrity of the elections.
The most important thing that came in the speech of the Prime Minister @MAKadhimi on the occasion of the October 2021 elections:
đ” I stand before you today, a year and three months after the formation of the government, which I had the honor to preside, to renew my commitment and loyalty to my country, and to the great Iraqi people, to make every effort to overcome the crises that surround us⊠pic.twitter.com/K2Jt5XdEsN
â Media Office of the Prime Minister đźđ¶ (@IraqiPMO) October 8, 2021
Al-Kazemi urges elections
Yesterday, Friday evening, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi addressed a speech to the Iraqis, in which he called on them to go massively to the elections.
In his speech, he indicated that the government provided the necessary requirements for its success, ensuring its protection and management, in order to achieve the will of the voters.
Al-Kazemi said, "We are in front of a great historical opportunity that should not be missed, to elect the House of Representatives from figures of national competence, who are not tainted by impurities of corruption, and who bear the responsibility for comprehensive reform in the next stage."
electoral silence
And on Saturday morning, Iraq entered the electoral silence phase, in preparation for holding early legislative elections tomorrow.
Electoral silence is the last step before universal suffrage.
During the period of silence, all entities - whether parties or others - are prohibited from carrying out any propaganda activities.
Under the law, electoral campaigns for candidates on social media platforms and satellite channels were also stopped.
Yesterday, Friday, the country witnessed a special poll in which members of the security and military institutions, the displaced, and the prisoners participated.
The Iraqi Electoral Commission said that the participation rate was 69%, as about 820 thousand voters participated, out of a total of one million and 200 thousand eligible to vote.
According to the commission's figures announced on July 31, 3,249 candidates represent 21 coalitions and 109 parties, as well as independents;
They will run for early elections.
Out of a total of about 40 million Iraqis, about 25 million people are entitled to vote in this poll, according to official figures.
The poll will take place tomorrow, amid strict security measures, as the authorities are supposed to deploy 250,000 security personnel throughout the country.