Referendum core part of democracy, should be allowed: Member of EU Parliament

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s referendum on independence is a core part of democracy and should be allowed to go ahead, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) stated on Sunday.

Observers from across the world are pouring into the Kurdistan Region to monitor the historic vote scheduled for Monday, Sep. 25.

Speaking to Kurdistan 24, Franz Obermayr, an Austrian MEP, affirmed it was “very important” for him and his colleagues to attend the referendum.

A member of the Kurdish-European friendship, Obermayr noted that his participation in the referendum would allow him to report how the vote was run and all the safeguards taken by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in holding the referendum.  

“The referendum is a core part of democracy, and it should be allowed. I, therefore, recommend supporting referendums everywhere in the world,” Obermayr said.

He and his fellow observers will visit various voting stations across the Region.

The MEP affirmed he would provide information on this historic referendum to his colleagues and table the report in the European Parliament to raise awareness of the right to self-determination, notably for the Kurds.

Kurdistan’s referendum on independence is benefiting from the presence of thousands of international observers who have traveled to Erbil ahead of the vote.

A delegation of UK Members of Parliament is also in Erbil to monitor the voting process and later report their findings back to the UK Parliament.

Over five million people are eligible to vote in the Kurdistan Region’s referendum, including people currently living in the Diaspora.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany