ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Carrying out Iraq’s legislative elections within their constitutional timeline reaffirms the “concept of peaceful transfer of power,” Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani said on Tuesday, reiterating his government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s political system. He further urged citizens to turn out in large numbers to the ballot boxes to shape Iraq’s political future.
The premier arrived at his polling station around 7:30 a.m. local time - half an hour after voting began - accompanied by his elderly mother to cast their ballots for the Council of Representatives elections at a polling center in Baghdad’s Karadat Maryam district.
A day earlier, he toured Baghdad’s central Karrada area, meeting with several citizens.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani accompanied his elderly mother to a polling station in western Baghdad’s Karradat Maryam area to cast their votes. #IraqVotes2025 pic.twitter.com/MSRxrjBdk0
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) November 11, 2025
After casting his vote, Prime Minister Sudani congratulated the Iraqi people on what he described as “a democratic celebration and a historic day,” marking the holding of the parliamentary elections.
He praised Iraqis for their sacrifices to ensure that “power and decision-making is transferred to the people so that they can choose their own destiny and political future.
“These elections, held within their constitutional timeline, affirm the concept of the peaceful transfer of power in the new Iraq,” Prime Minister Sudani said, emphasizing that they also highlight “the people’s commitment to this democratic practice, in which citizens, with responsibility and awareness, choose those who represent them in the legislature.”
Importantly, the prime minister underscored his government’s efforts to enhance the political system and consolidate democratic principles, referencing the provincial elections of December 2023 and the Kurdistan Region’s legislative elections in October 2024.
“Today, after completing all necessary preparations for the Independent High Electoral Commission [IHEC], political parties, and candidates, we are conducting the legislative elections in secure and stable conditions marked by integrity, allowing citizens the space to make their choice,” Prime Minister Sudani stated.
He further lauded Iraq’s “heroic” security forces for “countering any attempt to obstruct the political process since 2003,” and for their “great sacrifices” in that regard.
“Today, these security forces continue their path of giving, sacrifice, and selflessness - both through securing the elections nationwide and through their participation in the special voting two days ago, which saw over 82 percent turnout,” the prime minister added, interpreting the high turnout as an “affirmation of the security forces’ commitment to the democratic path.”