President Salih: High standards of electoral integrity must be ensured to guarantee credibility, legitimacy

On Thursday, the President of the Republic of Iraq, Barham Salih met with Mrs. Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel, the Chief Observer of this EU Electoral Observation Mission. The meeting was held at al-Salam Palace in Baghdad.

Iraqi President Barham Salih emphasized how important the country's next elections would be for Iraq. It was also necessary that high standards of electoral integrity guaranteeing credibility and legitimacy were ensured, he said.

Ensuring the right of vote for the electors to cast their vote freely without having concerns of fraud, vote-buying, and voter intimidation were of vital importance, and only in this way can we ensure that the elections' results will reflect the will of Iraqis, the President said.

The electoral Code of Conduct introduced by the Presidency of the Republic agreed by political parties emphasizes that legal regulations should be adhere to, and the right conditions for the country's October election aiming to ensure a secure and transparent vote should be created, and equal opportunities for the candidates must be provided, and  all parties should be adhere to instructions issued by the IHHC, and electoral fraud, manipulation or other irregularities  could play a role in the outcome of the elections must never be allowed, and these included the defamation  of the candidates, President Saih said.

Meanwhile, President Salih commended the role played by the EU in supporting the elections in Iraq, and noting that local and international observes networks and organizations and social and civil actors have important role in monitoring and oversight the elections in order to ensure the vote was free and fair and that there was no fraud or manipulation.

It is therefore, ensuring the secure and optimal conditions for the country's October elections will restore voter confidence in local ballots and motivate higher voter turnout, and will also ensure that what happened in the previous elections will never be allowed to occur again, he confirmed.



PUKmedia / Iraqi President