U.S. Supports Iraqi Democracy, Including Free & Transparent Elections in Kurdistan

Kurdistan 04:08 PM - 2024-04-16

Kurdistan flag & White House

Joe Biden, the President of the United States of America, praised the agreement reached between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and emphasised the importance of organising transparent and fair elections in the Region.

During a meeting between the U.S. President and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, President Biden reiterated his country's dedication to enhancing democracy in Iraq, specifically through the conduct of open, fair, and accountable elections in the Kurdistan Region. 

According to a statement published by the official website of the White House, "President Biden and Prime Minister Sudani discussed their shared view that the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR) is integral to Iraq’s overall prosperity and stability." 

'In that vein, the President commended the Prime Minister’s and KRG's efforts to reach durable agreements that resolve long-standing challenges, including the recent arrangement to pay two months of KRG civil servant salaries, and encouraged continued progress," the statement continued.

According to the statement, U.S. President Biden also affirmed his country's support for strengthening democracy in Iraq, including free, fair, and transparent regional elections in the IKR.

PUK is committed to holding elections on time

Saadi Ahmed Pire, the spokesperson for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), conveyed the following statement to PUKMEDIA: "The resolution of all issues, such as expanding citizen services, ensuring political stability in the Kurdistan Region, and rebuilding public trust, can only be accomplished through the conduct of elections. In the absence of elections, there would be a persistent constitutional void, and the future of the Kurdistan Region will be in a gloomy tunnel."

"Delaying the elections under any circumstances is unfavourable, and it is unacceptable to associate the elections with false calculations. We firmly believe that these elections will provide positive outcomes," he added. "The PUK is committed to holding elections on time. This date was determined through a consensus among all political parties. Our objective is to eliminate any barriers that hinder the process of conducting elections."

IHEC: Elections Will Not Be Postponed

Jumana al-Ghalai, the Spokesperson for the IHEC, informed PUKMEDIA that the spokesperson of the IHEC clarified that no decision has been made about the postponement or cancellation of the elections and that the commission is fully prepared to carry out the electoral process on June 10, 2024.




PUKMEDIA