Iraqi High Independent Electoral Commission Readjusts Schedule for Kurdistan Parliamentary Elections
The Iraqi High Independent Electoral Commission (IHEC) is in the process of formulating a revised schedule for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections, as announced by Emad Jamil, the head of the electoral administration office, on Wednesday.
The decision to develop a new timeline comes in response to financial difficulties faced by the IHEC, primarily attributed to delayed disbursement of funds from the Iraqi government specifically earmarked for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections.
Speaking exclusively to Kurdistan 24, Emad Jamil disclosed that a high-level delegation is slated to visit the Kurdistan Region in the coming days to engage in discussions with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials. The primary agenda of these discussions will be to collaboratively determine a new date for the much-anticipated sixth parliamentary elections in Kurdistan.
The electoral process had initially been set in motion by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, who issued a decree on February 25, 2024, marking the commencement of preparations for the sixth session of parliamentary elections in the region. However, the electoral momentum encountered a setback when the IHEC temporarily suspended its activities, prompted by two legal complaints filed against the Kurdistan Parliamentary Election Law in the Federal Court.
The protracted delays in the Federal Court's decision, marked by over seven postponements, have significantly impeded the progress of preparations for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections. Faced with this predicament, the IHEC has found it necessary to seek an extension for the electoral timeline.
The visit of the high-level delegation is expected to provide an avenue for constructive dialogue between the IHEC and KRG officials, facilitating a consensus on the most viable date for the parliamentary elections. As the electoral process undergoes readjustments, observers and stakeholders await further updates on the revised schedule and its implications for the democratic process in the Kurdistan Region.
