Sudani calls for ‘active participation’ in local elections

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Friday hoped to see an “active participation” of people in the upcoming local elections, adding that boycotting the process is “unjustified.”

After a decade of postponement, Iraq will hold local elections on Monday despite calls for another delay. Early voting will take place on Saturday. The Kurdistan Region is excluded from the polling. 

“We encourage your active participation in the Provincial Council Elections, a crucial aspect of the democratic administrative system,” Sudani said in a video message. 

“Provincial councils play a crucial role in our democratic system, grounded in decentralization, marking a significant phase of administrative transformation in Iraq,” he added. 

Iraq’s powerful cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has announced that his Sadrist Movement will not take part in the “corrupt elections.” However, he has called on supporters to refrain from attacking the process. 

His supporters gathered in Baghdad’s Sadr city late Friday, calling for boycotting the elections. 

“Boycotting elections is unjustified. Our primary tool for change and correction lies within the electoral process,” stated the Iraqi prime minister. 

The provincial councils were dissolved in 2019 in response to demands by Tishreen protesters who criticized the system for its failures and for enabling corruption. After several postponements, the election date was set for December 18. The last vote was held in 2013, excluding Kirkuk.