Kurdistan Parliament warns political parties it will commit to holding elections on time

Hawrami called on the political parties to abide by the legal timings and warned that the parliament would proceed with the legal procedures to hold the elections on time.
Kurdistan Parliament building. (Photo Parliament's media office)
Kurdistan Parliament building. (Photo Parliament's media office)

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Deputy Speaker of Kurdistan Parliament Hemin Hawrami reaffirmed on Saturday that the Kurdistan Parliament will abide by the legal timings to conduct elections.

"The current parliamentary term ends on Nov. 6, 2022, and we should hold the elections before then," Hawrami told a crowd at the Kurdistan Platform for National Issues' event in Sulaimani.

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Hawrami underlined that on Nov. 3, 2021, the Kurdistan Parliament met with the heads of the political parties at the parliament and asked them to inform their leadership to make the necessary preparations before the end of the parliament's term. 

"The Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission's (IHERC) mandate expired on Dec. 20, 2019," said Hawrami. "To renew its mandate, Kurdish lawmakers need to pass a new law." 

Hawrami went on to state that Kurdistan Region President will have to issue a presidential decree no later than Sep.6, 2022, to announce the date for holding the next parliamentary elections. 

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"We must have a new IHERC formed six months prior to issuing the presidential decree that announces the election's date," he said. 

The parliament's presidency has given the political parties the time needed to make necessary preparations for the elections, he added.

Hawrami called on the political parties to abide by the legal timings and warned that the parliament would proceed with the legal procedures to hold the elections on time. 

"We will work closely with the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and other international organizations to make sure the upcoming parliamentary elections are going to be fair and transparent," he said.