Iraq
Election workers test out voting machines in August as part of preparations for Iraq’s October 10 parliamentary election. File photo: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - European Union election observers will arrive in Iraq in mid-September to monitor preparations and voting, and will remain in the country until after counting and appeals, the EU announced on Monday.
“I am glad that responding to Iraq’s request, the European Union will deploy its first ever Election Observation Mission to the country,” said the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in a press release.
“Our observation mission is a clear manifestation of solidarity and support to the Iraqi people and of our solid partnership with Iraq,” he added.
The EU team is in Iraq at Baghdad’s request to monitor the October 10 parliamentary elections. Twelve European election experts arrived in Baghdad and Erbil on August 28. The long-term observers arriving this month will be deployed across the country.
“During election day, the mission will be reinforced with local short-term observers coming from EU Member States’ diplomatic missions present in Iraq,” and EU observers “will remain in the country until the completion of the electoral process, including counting and appeals,” added the press release.
Chief observer Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel said the polls “will be an important milestone in Iraq’s democratic build-up.”
Iraqis will go to the polls on October 10. Voter turnout is expected to be low with concerns of fraud, vote-buying, and voter intimidation.
Preparations include security teams to protect voting stations and ballot boxes as well as for any candidates who request a security detail at campaign events.
“The voting boxes are protected by a high security committee for the elections, who are given the duty of protecting the security and safety of the election process. For example the voting boxes that will be transferred from voting stations to storage will be with tight security, and there will be cooperation with civil defense forces for ultimate protection in the storage depots. We will work to protect these boxes,” Nibras Abu Souda, deputy spokesperson for the election commission, told Rudaw on Monday.
The Ministry of Interior is also assisting to secure the election process, voting stations and candidates, Nibras Mohammed Ali, head of ministry’s anti-propaganda department said on Monday.
The United Nations will also be playing its supervisory role in the upcoming elections. France and Germany have donated millions to the United Nations Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) for its monitoring mission.
Additional reporting by Mustafa Goran
“I am glad that responding to Iraq’s request, the European Union will deploy its first ever Election Observation Mission to the country,” said the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in a press release.
“Our observation mission is a clear manifestation of solidarity and support to the Iraqi people and of our solid partnership with Iraq,” he added.
The EU team is in Iraq at Baghdad’s request to monitor the October 10 parliamentary elections. Twelve European election experts arrived in Baghdad and Erbil on August 28. The long-term observers arriving this month will be deployed across the country.
“During election day, the mission will be reinforced with local short-term observers coming from EU Member States’ diplomatic missions present in Iraq,” and EU observers “will remain in the country until the completion of the electoral process, including counting and appeals,” added the press release.
Chief observer Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel said the polls “will be an important milestone in Iraq’s democratic build-up.”
Iraqis will go to the polls on October 10. Voter turnout is expected to be low with concerns of fraud, vote-buying, and voter intimidation.
Preparations include security teams to protect voting stations and ballot boxes as well as for any candidates who request a security detail at campaign events.
“The voting boxes are protected by a high security committee for the elections, who are given the duty of protecting the security and safety of the election process. For example the voting boxes that will be transferred from voting stations to storage will be with tight security, and there will be cooperation with civil defense forces for ultimate protection in the storage depots. We will work to protect these boxes,” Nibras Abu Souda, deputy spokesperson for the election commission, told Rudaw on Monday.
The Ministry of Interior is also assisting to secure the election process, voting stations and candidates, Nibras Mohammed Ali, head of ministry’s anti-propaganda department said on Monday.
The United Nations will also be playing its supervisory role in the upcoming elections. France and Germany have donated millions to the United Nations Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) for its monitoring mission.
Additional reporting by Mustafa Goran
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