Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has proposed September 5, 2024, as the new date for the Kurdistan Region's parliamentary elections, after informing the Region’s presidency of its inability to hold the legislative poll on its previously scheduled date.

In a letter addressed to the Kurdistan Region Presidency on Tuesday, IHEC stated, “The commission proposes September 5, 2024, as the date to hold the election process (general vote), noting that the operational timetable cannot be extended.”

This proposal follows IHEC’s announcement last week, conveyed by spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai to Rudaw, that the body could not conduct the overdue parliamentary elections on June 10, 2024. The delay stems from a recent decision by Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council, which reduced the allocation of minority seats from 11 to five in the Kurdistan Region’s parliament. The new distribution includes one seat in Duhok province, two in Erbil province, and two in Sulaimani province.

Al-Ghalai highlighted that the ruling “will impact the plans of the commission to hold the elections on June 10, 2024. Therefore, the commission cannot hold the elections on this date.”

The Kurdistan Region’s general elections, initially set for October 2022, have faced multiple postponements due to political disagreements over the election law and a ruling by the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court that dissolved the Kurdish legislature.

In February, the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court ruled that the 11 quota seats for ethnic and religious minorities in the Kurdistan Region’s parliament were unconstitutional, effectively eliminating these seats. This decision met strong opposition from the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which announced its boycott of the upcoming elections in protest. Most Christian and Turkmen political parties supported the KDP’s stance, demanding the restoration of the quota seats.

In light of these developments, the Iraqi parliament last week voted to extend the term of the electoral commission for another six months, nearly two months before the end of its current term.

The ongoing dispute over minority representation and the electoral timetable underscores the political tensions in the Kurdistan Region, raising concerns about the region's democratic processes and the inclusivity of its legislative framework. The proposed new election date aims to provide additional time to address these issues and ensure a fair electoral process.