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Parties violating election rules, fines not enough: Erbil municipal chief

28-04-2018

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Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Iraqi parliamentary election is just two weeks away, and candidates are rushing to get their message to the electorate ahead of the campaigning deadline. Some of them have violated the election commission’s guidelines, however, and Erbil municipality is raising them with authorities.

Saman Mohammed, head of Erbil municipality, told Rudaw: “We behave in accordance with the guidelines issued by the commission. All the violations will be pictured and documented and then submitted to the commission. Unfortunately, the measures set are not enough. According to their instructions, these parties have paid only some money in advance. This money will be given back to them only upon approval by the municipality. But the procedures taken in this regard are only financial punishment. They don’t solve the problem.”

Parties have been informed they cannot campaign in restricted areas.

“For example, around the castle and Qaesari market in Erbil, which have been renovated, they have used elastic material and hung photos. This is not allowed. They have also hung posters and put up stands in green areas in Erbil. This is not allowed. These often fall on the streets because of the wind,” Mohammed added.

“We have pictured more than 400 cases of violation and sent them to the commission. We as the municipality have to clean these areas,” he said.