ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Diplomatic missions in Baghdad and Erbil on Sunday welcomed the decision by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani to hold parliamentary elections on June 10 after several delays.
Barzani set the new date for the Region’s parliamentary elections on June 10.
“All relevant parties are required to collaborate with the Independent High Electoral Commission [IHEC] to ensure the smooth implementation of this decision,” a statement from the Kurdistan Region presidency read.
Foreign missions in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq were quick to welcome the announcement of a new date for the elections.
The US consulate in Erbil welcome the announcement, adding that the elections are “vital for a healthy democracy” in the Kurdistan Region.
@USCGErbil welcomes @IKRPresident Nechirvan Barzani’s announcement of June 10, 2024 IKP electiFair and free elections are an important element to strengthen the democratic stability of the Kurdistan Region and the legitimacy of its political system.ons. We support free and fair elections, which are vital for a healthy democracy and the future of the #Iraqi_Kurdistan_Region. pic.twitter.com/ItdkWkr5Uj
— U.S. Consulate General Erbil (@USCGERBIL) March 3, 2024
The British Consulate General in Erbil also welcomed the announcement, labeling elections “essential” for the people of the Kurdistan Region to express their voice.
“Canada encourages free and fair elections in @Kurdistan,” Canadian ambassador to Iraq Kathy Bunka said on X.
Élections in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq confirmed for 10 June 2024-Canada encourages free and fair elections in @Kurdistan @KRG_DFR @K24English @RudawEnglish @UNIraq https://t.co/ftIxHzyb4r
— Kathy Bunka (@bunkaeh) March 3, 2024
“Free and fair elections are as oxygen to a fire for any democracy,” a statement from the Netherlands consulate general read.
Claudio Cordone, the UN’s Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, said that UNAMI was ready to provide its support.
It’s 10 June for the Kurdistan Parliamentary elections. Looking forward to no more obstacles. @UNIraq is ready to continue to provide its support as requested. https://t.co/ZhntS2VOC8
— Claudio Cordone (@claudio_cordone) March 3, 2024
French consul general to Erbil Yann Braem welcomed the new date, stating that “holding free and fair elections is in everyone’s interest.”
"Fair and free elections are an important element to strengthen the democratic stability of the Kurdistan Region and the legitimacy of its political system," said the German Consulate in Erbil in a post on X, welcoming the decision.
The Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections were initially scheduled for October 2022 but were then pushed to November of the following year due to disagreements among political parties over the election law.
After an Iraqi court ruled against the self-extension of the Kurdistan parliament as a result of the delayed elections, the vote was postponed to February 25 of this year, this time under the supervision of the Iraqi electoral commission.
The date of the election was postponed again over a delay in federal court ruling on several articles of the election law. On February 21, the court ruled that the 11 quota seats in the Kurdistan Region’s parliament reserved for ethnic and religious minorities were “unconstitutional,” effectively rejecting the legitimacy of the seats.
