Postponement of registration in the Iraqi elections

The Election Commission confirmed the decision taken by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi to extend the registration of political parties, alliances and voters.

After the lack of interest of citizens and aspiring factions for positions in parliament, the High Electoral Commission considered holding the elections unrealistic.

In a letter he sent to the Iraqi prime minister, the governing body for the election process requested that the consultations be held in October.

This change in history took into account the small number of parties and alliances registered for the contest, which today’s figures will not be realistic in the opinion of the organization’s president, Jalil Khalaf.

Jumana Al-Ghalai, a spokeswoman for the commission, specified that only a small portion of the electoral register, which amounted to 25 million people, was registered, while most parties did not respond to the registration call that ended on Saturday.

The deputies also expressed doubts about the date of holding the elections scheduled for June 6, a year ahead of their scheduled date.

Another element against appointment to the ballot box indicates that the government and parliament meet conditions, including approval of the election law and budget allocation.

Early elections were part of the demands of the massive anti-government uprising that began in October 2019 to make fundamental changes to the ruling elite entrenched in power through corruption, looting of the treasury and political favoritism.

This anti-people panorama began its journey in 2003 after the invasion and occupation of the country by an international coalition led by the United States.

As victors, Washington and its allies rewrote the Iraqi constitution for the supposed equitable distribution of power between religions and ethnic groups, from which the current economic and social decline has arisen.

jha / arc