Iraq's Electoral Commission Urges Political Alliances to Abide by Non-Sectarian Slogans for Upcoming Elections
Iraq’s political landscape has been heavily influenced by sectarian narratives in the past, which have often led to division and tension among different communities.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The head of the Media Team at Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission emphasized that political alliances participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections must ensure their slogans are non-sectarian and comply with the Commission’s regulations. This announcement comes amid the final preparations for the highly anticipated elections set for November 11, 2025.
As of Saturday, more than 70 political parties and alliances have officially registered with the Electoral Commission to participate in the elections. Emad Jamil, the head of the Media Team, highlighted that 60 political alliances had already registered, with the possibility for additional parties to update their details or add new members to their lists. Jamil stressed the importance of abiding by the regulations, particularly the directive to avoid sectarian language in campaign slogans.
This directive comes at a crucial time when Iraq is preparing for its upcoming parliamentary elections, set by the Iraqi Council of Ministers on April 9, 2025, to take place on November 11, 2025. The registration process is a significant milestone, as it marks the formal entry of political groups into the race.
The Electoral Commission’s call for non-sectarian slogans is seen as an effort to promote unity and fairness during the election process. Iraq’s political landscape has been heavily influenced by sectarian narratives in the past, which have often led to division and tension among different communities. The Commission’s new stance signals a move towards fostering a more inclusive political environment, where parties focus on issues of national importance rather than sectarian divides.
This is particularly significant given the ongoing political dynamics in Iraq, where alliances have been shifting, and new parties are emerging in preparation for the elections. The political sphere has seen efforts to appeal to the broader electorate, with a growing push for reform and governance improvements. These developments indicate that the 2025 elections will be a pivotal moment for Iraq’s political future.
As the country heads towards the election date, more updates from the Electoral Commission and political alliances are expected in the coming weeks, with further clarity on how these alliances will campaign and whether they will fully comply with the Commission’s guidelines.
In a related development, on the same day, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani convened a congress for the Furatayn Movement, his political party, in preparation for the upcoming parliamentary elections. The congress aimed to solidify the party's platform and rally support ahead of the elections.
The Furatayn Movement, led by al-Sudani, was established in 2019 and has positioned itself as a centrist force focused on national unity and governance reform. The party seeks to appeal to a broad spectrum of Iraqi voters by emphasizing pragmatic solutions to the country's challenges.
With the shifting political landscape in Iraq, including realigning alliances and the emergence of new parties, al-Sudani's leadership of the Furatayn Movement signals his effort to consolidate his political base and assert greater independence within Iraq's complex political system. The congress marks a key moment in preparing the party for the challenges of the upcoming elections.