ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The leader of Iraq’s National Shiite Movement Muqtada al-Sadr on Sunday reiterated his call for boycotting the Iraqi parliamentary elections, as the country holds early polling.

“[We are] boycotters, so that we repel corruption with reform,” the influential Shiite cleric stated, noting that voting for parties that have been elected in previous elections “entrenches the corrupt, and perpetuates [their] dominance.”

Sadr added that supporters of the running parties are calling to “repel the more corrupt with the corrupt,” in hopes that “the one who has been tried will repel the more corrupt.” The Shiite leader argued that the previously elected parties “should not be tried again.”

Early polling centers opened Sunday morning toward security forces, eligible displaced persons (IDPs), and detainees in designated institutions, to exercise their right to vote.

The country is set to hold its general elections two days later on Tuesday, where around 20 million registered voters can cast a ballot.

“Save Iraq, for you are all responsible, even the heroic security forces,” Sadr added.

Sadr and his party have withdrawn and boycotted all electoral processes in Iraq, despite emerging as the victors of Iraq’s 2021 parliamentary elections. The Shiite cleric accused the country’s parties and politicians of corruption, and began routinely calling on residents not to participate in the parliamentary elections, arguing that it renders them culprit in the corruption.

The Sadrist lawmakers resigned after failing to secure enough support within the legislature to form a majority government in Iraq’s fifth term.