The Ethical Components of Responsibility and Trustworthiness of Presidential Election Candidates in the Legal Systems of Iran and Iraq

Introduction: In democratic systems, the moral characteristics of presidential candidates play a significant role in political legitimacy and public trust. Two fundamental ethical principles in this context are accountability and trustworthiness, which manifest through legal principles and statutory duties. Accountability refers to accepting the consequences of decisions and being answerable to the people and institutions, while trustworthiness implies safeguarding public interests and preventing the abuse of power. Therefore, the present study aims to examine the ethical components of accountability and trustworthiness among presidential election candidates within the legal frameworks of Iran and Iraq. Material and Methods: The present study is a review that examines responsibility and trustworthiness of presidential election candidates in the legal systems of Iran and Iraq. In order to achieve this goal, related articles and books were examined. Conclusion: From a legal standpoint, Article 115 of the Iranian Constitution stipulates that the president must be "a manager and prudent," which inherently requires accountability. Furthermore, Islamic ethical teachings place strong emphasis on rulers being responsible and answerable (such as the hadith: "Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock"), and in this regard, the Guardian Council oversees candidates' qualifications with attention to their sense of responsibility. In Iraq’s legal system, Article 68 of the Constitution requires the president to have a good reputation, competence, and loyalty to the country. Based on Islamic ethical teachings and tribal traditions in Iraq, accountability is also considered a value.