Iraqi Leadership Holds a Meeting with IHEC and UNAMI Chief to Discuss Right Conditions for Conducting Country's Next Federal Elections

On Thursday, January 14, 2021, Iraqi Presidencies held a meeting at Baghdad Palace. In addition to President of the Republic of Iraq, Barham Salih, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, the Speaker of Parliament Mohammed al-Halbouosi and the Head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Chief Justice Faiq Zidan also attended the meeting. 
The meeting was also attended by the members and Head of the Independent High Electoral Commission(IHEC) of Iraq and UN Special Representative Ms. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert to discuss the upcoming election.
During the meeting, the Independent High Electoral Commission(IHEC) presented the agenda plans for the work of the ballot process and the electoral timetable that has been set to hold an early, fair and free election. It, therefore, showed its commitments to conduct fair and free election, and expressed its determination to intensify efforts to complete the biometric voter registration. There is a need that IHEC be supported by the United Nations in monitoring and oversight, it said.
The IHEC confirmed that candidates for upcoming parliamentary elections, the political alliances and new political powers will be given sufficient time to complete the legal process of registration and to submit lists of candidates.
In order to facilitate the functioning of the IHEC and make it fully complete its work, Participants in the meeting recommended that the IHEC must be supported in a way that enables it to perform its tasks and to complete the constitutional and legal requirements to hold an early election.
 To do so, it is essential for Iraqi parliament to enact the Federal Court Act and to apply the provisions of Article 64 of the Iraqi constitution on dissolving the Iraqi Parliament in the run-up to early, fair and free elections.

 

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