FEBRUARY 2021

IRAQ today
STEFANIE LOOS/POOL VIA AP, FILE
Iraq postpones dates for early
elections by four months
Baghdad (AP)
Iraq’s Cabinet voted Tuesday
(January 19) to postpone early
elections for four months based
on a recommendation by the country’s
electoral commission, which
proposed the change citing technical
reasons.
Elections will now be held in October,
according to a statement from
the prime minister’s office following
a unanimous vote in the Cabinet.
Previously they were slated for June,
about a year ahead of schedule.
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi
announced in July that early polls
would be held to meet the demands
of anti-government protesters. Demonstrators
took to the streets in the
tens of thousands last year to demand
political change, and an end to rampant
corruption and poor services.
More than 500 people were killed
in mass demonstrations as security
forces used live rounds and tear gas
to disperse crowds.
Al-Kadhimi said in the statement
Tuesday the delay was due to “technical”
needs spelled out in a proposal
submitted to the Cabinet to ensure a
transparent electoral process. He did
not provide details on what the technical
issues were.
In a step toward holding elections,
Iraq’s president ratified a new
electoral law late last year aimed
at giving political independents a
chance at winning seats in parliament.
The law was passed despite
objections from political parties.
In its proposal for pushing back
early elections, the electoral commission,
which is legally tasked to organize
the polls, said more time was
needed for nominees to be named
and for electoral commissioners to
fulfill technical requirements.
Al-Kadhimi said the commission
In this October 20, 2020 file photo, Prime Minister of Iraq Mustafa al-Kadhimi speaks
during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the
Chancellery in Berlin, Germany.
was “keen on the integrity of the
elections and equal opportunities for
everyone to run the electoral process
fairly,” according to his statement.
The May 2018 federal elections
were mired in allegations of voter
fraud and corruption and saw historically
low turnout.
Al-Kadhimi said neither political
opposition to the early polls nor
the state’s crumbling finances were
to blame for the extension. The government,
which is suffering through
an unprecedented liquidity crisis due
to low oil prices, said the commission’s
budget is accounted for.
Parliament must also dissolve itself
in order for the polls to be held.
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FEBRUARY 2021 CHALDEAN NEWS 9