Iraq
Iraqi president Barham Salih meets with UNAMI chief Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and members of the electoral commission on May 24, 2021. Photo: presidency
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi president Barham Salih met with the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, on Monday to discuss preparations for upcoming Iraq elections, stressing the importance of ensuring election security, according to a statement from the presidency.
Salih met with the UNAMI chief and members of the electoral commission to discuss major issues and challenges related to the elections, with security topping the agenda.
“The forthcoming elections are of great importance as a national achievement,” his office tweeted.
“Creating a conducive environment for that achievement is a key to advancing and continuing the work of fundamental reform.”
The president also spoke of holding free and fair elections, according to the statement, as well as voter registration.
“Providing equal protection and equal opportunity for candidates to participate and be nominated, is a key basis for the success of the elections.”
Speaking in Erbil last week, Hennis-Plasschaert said the upcoming elections have left Iraq “at a crossroads.”
She has previously called for “all Iraqi stakeholders to uphold the integrity of the electoral process,” and press freedom when covering the elections.
Early elections were one of the key demands of protesters who began demonstrating across central and southern Iraq in October 2019. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi announced elections would be held in June, but they were later postponed to October.
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