Iraq Election Chief Says It's Too Late for January 16 Poll
11/05/09
BAGHDAD (AFP) -- The head of the Iraqi electoral commission said on Thursday it is now too late to organise a general election as planned on January 16 after repeated delays by MPs in adopting an electoral law.
The final word on the timing of the election rests with parliament, which meets again on Saturday, but Faraj al-Haidari's comments are likely to put pressure on MPs to push the date back towards the constitutional deadline of January 31.
"We can no longer organise elections on January 16 -- that would have been difficult even if we had received the law today," Haidari told state television."Whether they retain the old electoral law, amend it or adopt an entirely new one is a matter for members of parliament but we are the ones who will have to implement their decisions according to the timetable," he said.
"We hope that MPs will resolve their dilemma but we are not going to sacrifice international norms and criteria -- we're obliged to respect the rules so that these elections are transparent."
The commission is supposed to receive the electoral law 90 days before polling day but persistent wrangling in parliament means that the legislation has yet to be put to a vote.
MPs are to meet again on Saturday for a new attempt to hold a vote after a compromise text was agreed, a senior lawmaker said.
"We reached a deal on the electoral law in the committee on laws, and deputies will vote on Saturday," committee chairman Baha al-Araji told AFP.
However, Kurdish MP Khaled Chwani was more cautious, saying there had been only a tentative deal and that the sticking point was still oil-rich Kirkuk province and how it will be treated in the election.
"There were four proposals (on Kirkuk) today and we managed to boil them down to a single text," Chwani said. "We will study them and give our answer on Saturday."
Another Kurdish MP, Mahmud Othman, said "up until now nothing has been agreed, but Saturday afternoon we hope to reach a deal and include it on the agenda."
MPs have been deadlocked over the status of Kirkuk, an ethnically mixed province the Kurds have long demanded be incorporated in their northern autonomous region, despite opposition from its Arab and Turkmen residents.
While Kurds favour using current voter registration lists and keeping Kirkuk as one constituency, Arabs and Turkmen want 2004 or 2005 records to be used, or for Kirkuk to be split into two constituencies.
Executed dictator Saddam Hussein pursued a policy of Arabisation in Kirkuk, by driving Kurds out and settling Arabs in their place. But since his overthrow in the US-led invasion of 2003, Kurds have returned in large numbers.
The proposed amendments to the electoral law would also address whether parties list candidates' names on ballot papers or use the current system under which voters see only party names.
Supporters of the closed system argue it pushes party programmes to the fore.
Critics say sitting MPs who support the closed list are in fact concerned they could lose their seats.
A closed list was used in parliamentary elections in January 2005, the first to take place after Saddam's overthrow. Provincial elections last January used the open system.
Passage of the electoral law has remained deadlock despite intense lobbying from the United Nations and the United States, as well as pressure from Iraqi religious leaders and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
By Sammy Ketz
http://www.aina.org/news/20091105171311.htm
11/05/09
BAGHDAD (AFP) -- The head of the Iraqi electoral commission said on Thursday it is now too late to organise a general election as planned on January 16 after repeated delays by MPs in adopting an electoral law.
The final word on the timing of the election rests with parliament, which meets again on Saturday, but Faraj al-Haidari's comments are likely to put pressure on MPs to push the date back towards the constitutional deadline of January 31.
"We can no longer organise elections on January 16 -- that would have been difficult even if we had received the law today," Haidari told state television."Whether they retain the old electoral law, amend it or adopt an entirely new one is a matter for members of parliament but we are the ones who will have to implement their decisions according to the timetable," he said.
"We hope that MPs will resolve their dilemma but we are not going to sacrifice international norms and criteria -- we're obliged to respect the rules so that these elections are transparent."
The commission is supposed to receive the electoral law 90 days before polling day but persistent wrangling in parliament means that the legislation has yet to be put to a vote.
MPs are to meet again on Saturday for a new attempt to hold a vote after a compromise text was agreed, a senior lawmaker said.
"We reached a deal on the electoral law in the committee on laws, and deputies will vote on Saturday," committee chairman Baha al-Araji told AFP.
However, Kurdish MP Khaled Chwani was more cautious, saying there had been only a tentative deal and that the sticking point was still oil-rich Kirkuk province and how it will be treated in the election.
"There were four proposals (on Kirkuk) today and we managed to boil them down to a single text," Chwani said. "We will study them and give our answer on Saturday."
Another Kurdish MP, Mahmud Othman, said "up until now nothing has been agreed, but Saturday afternoon we hope to reach a deal and include it on the agenda."
MPs have been deadlocked over the status of Kirkuk, an ethnically mixed province the Kurds have long demanded be incorporated in their northern autonomous region, despite opposition from its Arab and Turkmen residents.
While Kurds favour using current voter registration lists and keeping Kirkuk as one constituency, Arabs and Turkmen want 2004 or 2005 records to be used, or for Kirkuk to be split into two constituencies.
Executed dictator Saddam Hussein pursued a policy of Arabisation in Kirkuk, by driving Kurds out and settling Arabs in their place. But since his overthrow in the US-led invasion of 2003, Kurds have returned in large numbers.
The proposed amendments to the electoral law would also address whether parties list candidates' names on ballot papers or use the current system under which voters see only party names.
Supporters of the closed system argue it pushes party programmes to the fore.
Critics say sitting MPs who support the closed list are in fact concerned they could lose their seats.
A closed list was used in parliamentary elections in January 2005, the first to take place after Saddam's overthrow. Provincial elections last January used the open system.
Passage of the electoral law has remained deadlock despite intense lobbying from the United Nations and the United States, as well as pressure from Iraqi religious leaders and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
By Sammy Ketz
http://www.aina.org/news/20091105171311.htm
