Razgar Haji Hama: PUK, Kurdish Parties Support Holding Elections

PUKMEDIA

Rizgar Haji Hama, head of PUK's Elections Bureau.

In an interview with PUKMEDIA, Rizgar Haji Hama, the head of PUK's Elections Bureau, stated: "The Iraqi Electoral Commission has assigned a vast budget, much of which has been spent, and has prepared all the staff and logistics, technical, and training needs for the elections." Timely provincial council elections are supported by the president of PUK as well as other Kurdish political movements and parties.``

Additionally, he declared, "We insist that the provincial council elections be held on time because it violates constitutional provisions. Some political groups, particularly in Kirkuk, have filed a Federal Court lawsuit to postpone the elections. The delay violates over 800,000 voters' rights."

Read the full interview below:

Q: How has the PUK Election Bureau prepared for the Iraqi provincial council elections?

Rizgar Haji Hama: "The Iraqi Prime Minister and the Iraqi Commission designated December 18 as the date for provincial council elections in the contested territories, and the PUK's Election Bureau has made all the required preparations. We're running as coalitions in various places and have nominated our candidates. Elections are barely a few days away."

Q: Has any party asked the Federal Court to postpone the elections?

Razgar Haji Hama: "It is clear that several political groups, particularly in Kirkuk, have filed a lawsuit at the Federal Court to postpone the provincial council elections, which have not been held since 2005. The party that submitted the lawsuit has all the roles, including the governorship, and they believe there will be changes, notably in Kirkuk's governorship. The PUK, which has entered the process in Kirkuk and other disputed Kurdistani areas, has many supporters, and all the people of Kirkuk and the disputed areas will vote for it. The complainants want Kirkuk to stay the same."

Q: Where have the preparations for the election process reached?

Razgar Haji Hama: "The Iraqi Electoral Commission has prepared all the staff and logistics, technical, and training needs for the elections and assigned a vast budget, much of which has been spent. The PUK President and other Kurdish political movements and parties support timely provincial council elections. The postponement of the elections will undermine voter trust in Iraq's political and administrative authorities because all political parties have been campaigning for over a month and the massive budget has been partially spent. The commission also fixed any concerns with the provincial council election law, which is now in effect."

Q: How satisfied are you with the voter registration list of the Iraqi Commission?

Rizgar Haji Hama: "The Iraqi High Electoral Commission has an impeccable track record due to its use of biometric technology. The commission used the same voter records in 2021 and had no problems. Furthermore, those with temporary identification cards have been barred from voting. There are currently protests in Kirkuk regarding the postponement of the polls. Kirkuk's voter registration has dropped from 1.2 million to 800,000. This decrease indicates that the voter registry has been thoroughly revised, leaving no valid reason for postponing the election. We insist on the elections being held on time, as any delay would be in direct violation of certain constitutional provisions and could be interpreted as an infringement on the rights of over 800,000 voters."

Q: Will the efforts to prevent voting in the disputed areas succeed?

Rizgar Haji Hama: "Every citizen of Iraq has the right to vote and run for office, as guaranteed by the constitution. As a result, any modification that violates this right is deemed unconstitutional. I am confident that the Federal Court is an unbiased judicial body and that its rulings will adhere to the constitutional framework to promote Iraq's overall welfare without discrimination. I believe the Federal Court will not make any distinctions between citizens from different regions."



PUKMEDIA