Baghdad – Iraq’s democratic process faces significant challenges as the Al-Nasr Coalition, led by former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, announced on Friday that it will not field candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Instead, the coalition pledged to support the National State Forces Alliance.
In their official statement, Al-Nasr emphasized its commitment to remain part of the National State Forces Alliance. However, the group cited serious concerns about the electoral environment’s fairness as the reason for their withdrawal.
Specifically, Al-Nasr criticized elections that are influenced by political money and lack strict enforcement of legal protections. The coalition pointed out issues such as vote-buying, misuse of public funds, foreign financing, and exploitation of state resources. They argued these problems compromise Iraq’s democratic process.
The coalition also highlighted that true political strength depends on values and ethical behavior rather than election size. “Political credibility and effectiveness come from conduct, not flawed electoral metrics,” the statement read.
Furthermore, Al-Nasr urged comprehensive reforms to the electoral system. These changes would help increase voter participation and ensure that only capable leaders take office. They stressed the importance of eliminating unethical influences that can distort election results.
“A conscious, free, and fair vote is what produces leaders truly deserving of public trust,” the coalition declared.
In addition, Al-Nasr warned about protecting Iraq’s democratic process from any attempts to weaken it or promote instability. The group reaffirmed the importance of preserving the country’s democratic political order at all costs.
Looking ahead, Iraq’s parliamentary elections are scheduled for November 11. Meanwhile, the Independent High Electoral Commission has completed candidate registrations and continues updating the voter database, which now includes nearly 30 million registered voters.
As Iraq approaches this critical vote, the coalition’s withdrawal highlights the urgent and important need for electoral reforms to strengthen democracy and restore public confidence.
