ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The head of Iraq's electoral body on Thursday told Rudaw that the commission will need at least six months to prepare and conduct Kurdistan Region's parliamentary elections, casting doubt on the likelihood that the vote will be held as scheduled in November. The Iraqi Federal Supreme Court in late May ruled that the Kurdish parliament's decision was "unconstitutional" when it decided last October to extend its term amid disputes between parties over holding elections. With Kurdish lawmakers having failed to reactivate the regional electoral commission before the self-extension and all decisions from the parliament since declared null by the Supreme Court, the federal electoral commission has been tasked with carrying out the poll. Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Thursday hosted United Nations Special Representative for Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and officials from the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). All sides stressed the significance of holding elections as soon as possible, but that will take time, according to Omar Mohammed, head of the IHEC. "After our demands are met by the Kurdistan Region president, we might need six to seven months starting from that day," said Mohammed, adding that they agreed during Thursday's meeting to send a list of their requirements to the presidency and continue coordination until a date has been set. The Iraqi electoral body is currently preparing for Iraq-wide provincial elections later this year and has repeatedly stated that it would not be able to hold both elections in close proximity. Mohammed said that the commission can prepare for both elections at the same time, but it is unlikely that they would occur in the same month as it might compromise the quality of the election process. Iraqi provincial council elections are set for December 18, while the Kurdistan Region's parliamentary elections were scheduled for November 18.
