President Barzani, judiciary stress holding Kurdistan Region elections

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Region Presidency announced in a statement on Monday that Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections should be held following a meeting between President Nechirvan Barzani and members of the judiciary. 

“[Kurdistan Region] President Nechirvan Barzani emphasized that the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region and other relevant parties will take all the necessary constitutional and legal actions to ensure that the Kurdistan parliamentary elections are held,” the statement read.

This statement was released following the meeting between the Kurdistan Region President and the President, vice presidents, and members of the Kurdistan Region Court of Cassation, as well as The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Minister of Justice, Firsat Ahmed.

The main topic of the discussion centered on the delay in the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq's decision regarding the Kurdistan Parliament Election Law. The participants thoroughly examined the constitutional and legal aspects of this issue and also deliberated on its potential ramifications.

Due to a standing lawsuit against Kurdistan Region election law at the Federal Supreme Court, the Iraqi High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has not been able to hold the Kurdish region’s election. 

The high court has adjourned its sessions several times. 

President 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 their calls for holding the elections on time and without further delay.

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

Emad Jamil, a top official from the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), on Jan. 3, told Kurdistan24 that the commission would not be able to hold the Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections due to the postponement of the Federal Supreme Court’s decision on the quota seats to Jan. 21.

Every four years, Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections are held to elect the 111 members. The election was first held in 1992 and the most recent election was held in 2018.

Dawid Salman, the Director of the IHEC, previously told Kurdistan24 that there are 3.6 million eligible voters in the Kurdistan Region.