KDP formally intends to participate in upcoming KRG parliamentary elections: IHEC spox
“In a formal letter addressed to the IHEC's political parties affairs office, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has expressed its intention to participate in the sixth round of parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region.”
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - On Sunday, June 9, the spokesperson for Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) revealed that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has expressed its formal intention to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region.
Jumana al-Ghalai, spokesperson for the IHEC, told Kurdistan24, “In a formal letter addressed to the IHEC's political parties affairs office, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has expressed its intention to participate in the sixth round of parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region.”
On May 29, the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) proposed that the Kurdistan parliamentary elections be held on September 5, 2024.
Read More: IHEC proposes date for the KRG's parliamentary elections
According to a letter sent to the office of Fawzi Hariri, the chief of staff at the Kurdistan Region Presidency, Judge Omar Ahmed Mohammed, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Independent High Electoral Commission, proposed the new date for the sixth session of the Kurdistan Parliament.
Jumana al-Ghalai, spokesperson for the Iraqi High Elections Commission (IHEC), announced on Thursday, May 23, that the Commission will formally request the Kurdistan Region Presidency to set a new date for the Kurdistan Parliament elections.
Read More: IHEC to request new date for Kurdistan Parliament elections: IHEC spox
Previously, Kurdistan Region's President Nechirvan Barzani had announced June 10 as the date for the sixth session of the Kurdistan Region's parliamentary elections. However, all political parties agree that the elections will not be held on the set date.
Read More: Kurdistan Region President sets June 10th for parliamentary elections
Sarbast Lezgin, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Politburo and head of Dohuk's KDP Organizational office, revealed on Tuesday, May 28, the anticipated timeline for the upcoming Kurdistan Region's parliamentary elections.
In an interview with Kurdistan24, Lezgin stated, “The dialogue with the concerned parties in Baghdad is ongoing, involving the Commission, the Judiciary, the Federal Court, and the political parties. Some changes have already occurred, and others are imminent.”
Regarding the scheduling of the new election date, Lezgin mentioned, “The president of the region is expected to set a new date. We anticipate that the elections will be held between October and November, contingent upon agreements with the Commission and political parties in the region.”
Read More: KDP member reveals expected date for Kurdistan Region's Parliamentary Elections
The primary reason for the delay is that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Kurdistan Region's ethnic and religious communities have refrained from participating in the upcoming election. This decision follows the Iraq Federal Supreme Court's ruling to controversially annul the 11 quota seats reserved for these communities' representation in the Kurdistan Region. As a result, all parties concur that the election cannot proceed as planned in June.
Read More: We refrain from justifying undemocratic elections: KDP Politburo
Additionally, there are concerns about potential manipulation or external interference in the election results. These concerns contribute to the consensus among political parties that the elections should be postponed to ensure a fair and transparent process.
Read More: KDP doesn’t accept any illegal interference in parliamentary elections, says spox