Fourth Decree Didn't Hold Elections; Request for New Date Remains Unanswered

Reports 03:23 PM - 2024-06-10

Kurdistan Parliament, Kurdistan flag and a voter's index finger.

The sixth term of parliamentary elections in Kurdistan was set to take place on Monday, June 10, 2024, according to the fourth decree issued by Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region. However, the electoral commission's operations have been disrupted by Masrour Barzani's appeal to the Federal Court regarding Article 2, paragraph 2, of the electoral law. As a result, the polls have been delayed, and in order to move forward with the elections, the commission is now waiting on a fifth regional decree.

IHEC has been asking for a new decree for over 10 days

The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) submitted a request for a fresh election date to the President of the Kurdistan Region more than 10 days ago but has not received a response yet. The IHEC has suggested September 5, 2024, as a potential date for the elections; however, the presidency has not yet been able to finalise a new date.

The IHEC is now awaiting a revised date for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections. According to the spokesperson, the commission's term has been temporarily extended in order to fulfil its responsibilities of overseeing and managing these elections.

Elections should be held before the commission's term expires

IHEC Spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai told PUKMEDIA: "Any more delay in issuing the decree to establish a new date for the sixth term of the Kurdistan parliamentary elections will have a negative impact on our ability to carry out our election-related tasks. For more than 10 days, we have been requesting the Kurdistan Region's Presidency establish a revised timetable for the parliamentary elections."

"The parliament has prolonged the tenure of the IHEC until early 2025 in order to oversee the Kurdistan parliamentary elections. Consequently, the presidency should promptly establish a new date for the elections prior to the conclusion of the IHEC's tenure," she stated.

All parties agree on holding the election

According to data obtained by PUKMEDIA, 20 political parties, two coalitions, and 54 individual candidates completed the registration process for the parliamentary elections during the initial candidature registration period, which ended on March 14, 2024, as announced by the IHEC. Following the postponement of the elections, the IHEC allowed registration to resume on June 8, 2024. On June 9, 2024, the IHEC issued a statement announcing that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which had previously declined to participate, had now registered and agreed to contest the elections.

A fifth decree should be issued

The Kurdistan Region's President previously issued four decrees for the sixth term of the Kurdistan Region's parliamentary elections and published them in the Kurdistan Region's official gazette, which were:

1: Decree of February 24, 2022, to hold elections on October 1, 2022.

2: Decree of March 26, 2023, to hold elections on November 18, 2023.

3: Decree of August 3, 2023, to hold elections on February 25, 2024.

4: Decree of March 3, 2024, to hold elections on June 10, 2024.

After four regional decrees, the IHEC is now awaiting the issuance of the fifth regional decree in order to proceed with the sixth term of the Kurdistan Parliament.



PUKMEDIA