Baghdad: President of the Republic, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, announced today the preparation of a presidential program aimed at supporting the upcoming elections. Rashid emphasized the commission’s proven ability to conduct fair elections, as demonstrated most recently in the Kurdistan Region.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Rashid, during a dialogue seminar focused on the media’s role in the parliamentary elections, stated that the Presidency of the Republic has dedicated over a year to setting up the conditions necessary for free and fair elections. This involved multiple meetings with the Independent High Electoral Commission and Mohammed Al-Hassan, the UNAMI representative in Iraq, to address and overcome the challenges faced by the electoral body in collaboration with relevant authorities.

Rashid further highlighted the Presidency’s commitment to ensuring the electoral process’s honesty and transparency. He mentioned that discussions among the presidencies frequently included topics on election integrity. A document outlining six points to ensure transparency was recently signed and incorporated into the Independent High Electoral Commission’s system.

He noted Iraq’s achievement of conducting six electoral processes, with the upcoming one being the sixth under the 2005 Constitution. Rashid stressed the importance of all parties, including governmental and non-governmental institutions and the media, in ensuring the election process is executed smoothly. He underscored Iraq’s history of peaceful power transitions since 2004, highlighting the need to maintain this achievement amidst the country’s current security and stability.

Rashid pointed out that the Independent High Electoral Commission holds significant responsibility for this electoral process, having demonstrated its capability through previous elections, including those in the Kurdistan Region. He also emphasized the media’s role in transparently and credibly covering the elections, as they have the duty to expose misconduct and project a positive image.

In conclusion, Rashid announced a comprehensive program by the Presidency of the Republic to support and promote the parliamentary elections, encouraging voter participation. The program’s activities will culminate in a televised address to the Iraqi people on the eve of the elections.