Iraqi PM calls for national dialogue to prepare for ‘transparent elections’
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi called on Wednesday for “comprehensive national dialogue” ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections.
During a meeting with President Barham Salih, parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi and heads of political blocs, he said the dialogue is aimed at paving the way for establishing necessary political, security and social environment to hold “free and transparent” polls.
His call was seen as an attempt to counter efforts by political forces to impede preparations for the elections, which are set for June 2021.
Political forces opposed to the polls have deliberately been obstructing efforts to approve an electoral law and are now hindering efforts to approve a law on financing the polls.
Other obstacles include a lack of quorum at the Federal Supreme Court after two of its nine judges passed away and a third retired. This shortage alone is impediment to hold the elections.
Proposals to resolve the vacuum have included amending regulations at the Supreme Court, which is an issue of contention among political blocs, or nominating three new judges to fill the vacant spots.
Kadhimi made his pledge to hold early elections soon after taking office, meeting a main demand of anti-government protesters. His opponents, however, view his insistence on holding them as an obstacle to staging them, explaining that there is little time to complete the necessary preparations.
Moreover, sharp disputes between and among various political blocs, whether Shiite, Sunni or Kurdish, are another massive hurdle.
AFP
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