Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections to be held on time, says presidency official

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Region’s sixth parliamentary election will be held on time, reiterated a Kurdish presidency official on Sunday to Kurdistan24.

Fawzi Hariri, the chief of staff at the Kurdistan Region Presidency, told Kurdistan24 that no issue hinders holding the elections on time set for Feb. 25, 2024.

The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) will organize the polls after the Kurdish authorities have officially requested the Iraqi Commission to supervise the election.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Presidency are working with the electoral commission regarding the necessary preparations.

Regarding a lawsuit against the Region’s election at the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court, Hariri said the presidency will have a “better vision” following the verdict.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on August 3 set February 25, 2024, as the new date for parliamentary elections that had been delayed by more than a year due to political infighting.

Due to political infighting, the Kurdistan Region parties could not agree on amending the election law last year, triggering the extension of the current Kurdistan Parliament term by a year.

The Iraqi Supreme Court in August issued its verdict on the extension, calling it “unconstitutional.”

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and President Nechirvan Barzani have reiterated calls for holding the elections on time without further delay.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq has also called on the political parties to hold the polls on time.

Additional reporting by Kurdistan24 Erbil reporter Renas A. Saeed