Mohamed al-Hassan, the newly appointed Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq and Head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) in a statement on Thursday underlined that the upcoming Kurdistan parliamentary elections on October 20 will reinvigorate democracy and serve as an important milestone for the Kurdistan Region.
On Friday, October 18, military personnel will vote, while the general vote will take place on Sunday, October 20.
“The people of this region will be going to the polls on Friday and Sunday to exercise their right to elect their representatives in the new regional parliament. It is a political representation of the people of the Kurdistan Region for the coming four years,” Special Representative al-Hassan said.
پەیامی د. محمد ئەلحەسان، نوێنەری تایبەتی سکرتێری گشتی نەتەوە یەکگرتووەکان، سەبارەت بە هەڵبژاردنی پەڕلەمانی هەرێمی کوردستان
— UNAMI (@UNIraq) October 17, 2024
Message from SRSG Dr. Mohamed Al Hassan on the Kurdistan Regional Parliamentary Elections https://t.co/1efiXfCNSc
“It will reinvigorate democracy and inject new ideas into its institutions that will address the people’s concerns. This is all too necessary. The Kurdistan Region has been without a parliament for some time. This election is long overdue. Elections are an important milestone in the region’s journey.”
On June 26, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani announced that the general election for the sixth term of the Kurdistan Region Parliament will take place on October 20, 2024, after years of delays due to political disputes.
Moreover, Special Representative al-Hassan said that the Kurdistan Region today is a different region from what it was decades ago. “I was very impressed by the development and the progress that I have witnessed so far.”
“I am certain many challenges remain. However, Kurdistan is on the right path towards a better future. Now it is the opportunity to mark that path.”
The election campaign was concluded officially on October 15. “Rallies by political parties and candidates were overall peaceful. This is the true spirit of a democratic process,” he added.
He also said he encouraged the nearly 3 million eligible voters in the Kurdistan Region to go out and vote.
“We cannot reiterate enough the importance of exercising this right, as so many fellow Kurds have paid the heavy price to ensure it is safeguarded for generations to come.”
Special Representative al-Hassan also said the UNAMI mission is supporting the Independent High Electoral Commission and that international and local partners are also participating in the observation process for the elections.
Read More: Kurdish Leaders Discuss Parliament Elections With UNAMI Head
On Tuesday, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday welcomed Special Representative al-Hassan, as the two officials confirmed the UN’s willingness to deepen cooperation with the KRG.
