Election Decree of Kurdistan Region's President is Requested for Third Time

Kurdistan 02:21 PM - 2024-01-04

Kurdistan Parliament

The parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region have been asked to be postponed by the Iraqi Independent High Election Commission (IHEC).

IHEC Spokesperson stated: "The Iraqi voter registry is immaculate, so we will utilize it for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections."

Jumana al-Ghalai, Spokesperson of the IHEC, told PUKMEDIA: "The IHEC is supervising the Kurdistan parliamentary elections and the commissioners are tasked with making final decisions on certain election-related actions. IHEC is committed to ensuring that all legal measures are taken for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections."

"Since the Iraqi voter record is spotless and includes all eligible voters, including those who were born in 2006, it will provide as the foundation for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections. The Kurdistan parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place in the same manner as the provincial council elections in Iraq," she added.

IHEC requests the postponement of the Kurdistan parliamentary elections

Omar Ahmed Mohammed, the Chairman of the IHEC, has issued a response to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) regarding the projected date for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections and stated: "The decree has designated February 25, 2024 as the date for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections. However, it is not possible to hold the elections on this date due to the need for adequate preparation and sufficient advance notice, as outlined in the preparation schedule." 

Additionally, the IHEC chairman has stated that the deadline does not allow for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections to take place on February 25 of this year.

The letter states that IHEC attributes the delay to the accounting procedures of the Ministry of Finance that are associated with funding. As a result, IHEC has been unable to follow its planned timeline for contracting and purchasing election materials.

IHEC Spokeswoman: Iraq held clean elections

Iraqi Spokeswoman told PUKMEDIA: "A total of 294 appeals have been filed against the result of the Iraqi provincial council elections. These appeals have been received by the IHEC, which is expected to make a decision within 10 days. It is important to note that the election results do not require approval from the federal court; only the approval of the commissioners' council is necessary."

The Iraqi provincial councils' election was monitored by a total of 333,986 local observers, 1,857 international observers, 495,168 political party representatives, and 2,412 local and foreign media personnel.

"So far, the procedures and assessment of votes, both electronically and manually, have been excellent, with unanimous affirmation of the integrity of the Iraqi provincial councils' election in accordance with international standards." Nevertheless, it is common for parties that are not victorious to occasionally refuse to acknowledge the outcome," Ghalai added.

As to PUKMEDIA's findings, the conclusive outcomes of the Iraqi provincial councils' election are anticipated to be declared in the middle of this month.

PUK rejects five electoral law articles

Ziad Jabar, the head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) faction in the fifth session of the Kurdistan parliament, lodged a complaint in the Federal Court against five specific provisions of the electoral legislation. Despite the fact that the Federal Court had three hearing dates set for the complaint, the hearing was always postponed for some reason, and it was ultimately determined to take place on January 21, 2024.

The complaint was lodged against Articles 1, 9, 15, 22, and 36 of the Kurdistan Parliamentary Elections Law. For the next parliamentary elections, the PUK seeks to utilize the legislation of the Iraqi Kurdistan National Council, established in 1992 by the Kurdistan Front.

PUK spokesman: We are prepared for the elections

The PUK is prepared to participate in the upcoming Kurdistan parliamentary elections. "We have never been afraid of elections," PUK spokesman stated.

Prior to this, Saadi Ahmad Pire, the spokesperson for the PUK, conveyed the following statement to PUKMEDIA: "With the recent conclusion of the Iraqi provincial council elections, the PUK is prepared for the next Kurdistan parliamentary elections."

If the Kurdistan parliamentary elections are delayed at the request of IHEC, the President of the Kurdistan Region must select a new date for the elections for the third time, as he had already scheduled them for November 18, 2023, and February 25, 2024.



PUKMEDIA