Politics

US Ambassador, UNAMI concerned, call for fair elections in Kurdistan

US Ambassador & UNAMI express concern over KDP's decision, emphasizing voter rights; urge fair elections; stress collective action. KDP rejects imposed systems in Kurdistan's political process.

Kurdistan 24 2024/03/19 09:06

Flags of the United States of America and the United Nations. (Photo design by Kurdistan 24)

Kurdistan US Ambassador to Iraq Alina L Romanowski UNAMI Kurdistan Democratic Party parliamentary elections

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The US Ambassador to Iraq and UNAMI expressed concern over the decision of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and called for a solution to the problems, emphasizing the protection of the right to vote for all citizens of the Kurdistan Region.

US Ambassador to Iraq Alina L. Romanowski said Monday March 18 that all people in the Kurdistan Region should have a voice in deciding their future.

"We urge the Government of Iraq & the Kurdistan Regional Government to ensure that elections are free, fair, transparent, and credible," she said.

We are concerned by KDP’s announcement to boycott the Iraqi Kurdistan Region elections. We urge the Government of Iraq & the Kurdistan Regional Government to ensure that elections are free, fair, transparent, & credible. All the people of Iraqi Kurdistan Region should have a…
— Ambassador Alina L. Romanowski (@USAmbIraq) March 18, 2024

Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq (UNAMI) said in a message on the political stance of the KDP: "We call on all parties to work in the interest of the people, and thus towards solutions, rather than another prolonged impasse."

We take note of today’s KDP decision, as we have taken note of the FSC decision last month. We call on all parties to work in the interest of the people, and thus towards solutions, rather than another prolonged impasse. The holding of the 10 June KRI elections is essential.
— UNAMI (@UNIraq) March 18, 2024

On March 18, 2024, the KDP Political Bureau issued a statement addressing Iraq's current situation, Erbil-Baghdad relations, Kurdistan's parliamentary elections, and Federal Court decisions.

They emphasized, "Here, we hold the parties of the state administration coalition accountable for their national responsibility in implementing the constitution and all aspects of the political and administrative agreement to establish the current Iraqi government under the leadership of Mr. Mohammed Shia al-Sudani; otherwise, we cannot proceed with the political process."

The KDP Political Bureau highlighted the importance of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) not accepting unconstitutional decisions and imposed systems, stating, "Elections should not be held under an imposed system."