KDP President Barzani Urges Election Readiness Amid Technical Challenges in Kurdistan Region
In a crucial meeting with EU Ambassador to Iraq, Thomas Seiler, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani underscored the pivotal role of the KDP in advancing democracy and election organization since the Kurdish uprising in 1991. The meeting, held on Wednesday, centered on the political landscape in Iraq and the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region.
President Barzani highlighted the KDP's consistent advocacy for parliamentary elections and urged swift resolution of technical impediments hampering the election process. He called upon the United Nations to ensure fair elections, stressing the imperative for results to accurately reflect the Kurdish people's voice and will.
Expressing gratitude to the international community and the UN for their support, President Barzani emphasized the impossibility of holding a free and fair election on the current scheduled date. He noted some progress in collaborative efforts to address issues but stressed the need for additional time to fully resolve them. Therefore, he advocated for postponing the elections for a few months to safeguard voter and community rights from violation.
The EU Ambassador to Iraq commended President Barzani for his significant role in advancing political progress and stability in both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. He underscored the EU's serious consideration of the KDP's insights on election technicalities, emphasizing that both the EU and the UN deem elections lacking the participation of a "major party" like the KDP as undemocratic and incomplete.
The meeting reflects growing concerns over the readiness of the Kurdistan Region for timely and fair parliamentary elections, with the KDP urging postponement to ensure a democratic process and inclusive representation of Kurdish voices.