Presidential elections in limbo with no confirmed candidates

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – There are currently no candidates officially registered to run for the post of president of the Kurdistan Region in the November 1 elections, according to the Region’s electoral commission. 

Gorran’s Mohammed Tofiq Rahim has submitted registration paperwork, but he did so late and the electoral commission is carrying out consultations to determine if they can accept his candidacy, the electoral commission’s spokesperson Shirwan Zirar told Rudaw. 

According to the Region’s presidential law, candidates must register 30 days prior to an election. Presidential elections are due to be held on November 1, along with parliamentary elections. 

The electoral commission is consulting with the relevant authorities, including the parliament’s legal committee, to see if it is possible to accept Rahim’s candidacy, Zirar said. At the moment, Rahim’s registration is pending.

No other candidate has registered for the election, he confirmed, adding that the commission will carry out further consultations to determine what action to take with respect to the November 1 elections. 

According to the laws of the commission, elections will not be held if no one registers as candidate for the position of the Kurdistan Region’s president.