SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraq on Tuesday postponed early parliamentary elections to October 10, a few days after the electoral commission requested the delay.
The Iraqi Council of Ministers held a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, hosting members of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) to discuss the early parliamentary elections.
The Council of Ministers voted to set October 10 as a new date for the early elections, according to state news agency INA.
In July, Kadhimi called for early elections to take place on June 6, 2021, which was one of the main demands of anti-government protesters who organized months of mass demonstrations beginning in October 2020.
In a letter to the prime minister on Sunday, the IHEC proposed to postpone the early elections to October 16 in an effort to complete technical preparations.
It said the extension would give more time to political alliances and candidates to complete the registration process.
“The renewal of biometric voter cards and technical preparations need more time,” the commission added.
IHEC spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai said earlier on Sunday that more than 25 million people are eligible to vote in the elections, but only 15 million voters have so far registered in the biometric system.
Last week, a source in the Iraqi parliament told Esta Media Network that senior Iraqi officials had agreed to postpone the early elections during a meeting between Iraqi President Barham Salih, Kadhimi, Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi and Head of judicial Council Fayiq Zidan.
*This story was updated at 03:15 p.m. EBL time
