War-ravaged Iraq not ready for elections, say Sunnis calling for delay
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Sunnis in the Iraqi parliament want elections postponed in order to first allow areas ravaged by the war with ISIS to recover.
Citing public interest, social and political justice, and equal opportunity for all Iraqis, the Sunni coalition presented to demands to the parliament, according to documents published by Alghadeer online on Wednesday.
Swathes of Iraq, mainly Sunni, have witnessed largescale destruction in the war against the extremist group. Insecurity still remains in many of these areas and more than 2.5 million people are still displaced.
The Sunni coalition, known as the Union of Forces, requested elections be postponed “for a period no less than one year.”
Should elections proceed as tentatively scheduled on May 12, the Sunnis argue they should at least be postponed in the provinces most affected by the war.
The Union of Forces coalition was formed in 2014 to represent the Sunni provinces. In 2017, a Union of Iraqi Forces, largely composed of the same Sunni blocks from the first union, was formed by the Speaker of the Parliament Salim al-Jabouri to facilitate the return home of those displaced and rebuilding the provinces destroyed by the war on ISIS.
Sunni MPs have boycotted parliamentary sessions that addressed the elections. They object to holding the vote while areas are still damaged or destroyed and populations are still living in camps.
The Presidency of Iraq on Tuesday urged the parliament to confirm the election date and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said the vote will be hold on time.
The Council of Ministers has selected May 12 for the vote, but parliament still needs to approve the date.
Sunni majority areas faced the brunt of ISIS’ brutality and occupation. Cities like Mosul were severely damaged and their populations displaced during the war to oust the extremist group.
The Sunni MPs have also objected to the 2018 budget bill, calling for more funds to be allocated for the war-damaged areas.
An international conference of donors for Iraq will be held February 12-14, hosted by Kuwait together with the World Bank and the EU.
Citing public interest, social and political justice, and equal opportunity for all Iraqis, the Sunni coalition presented to demands to the parliament, according to documents published by Alghadeer online on Wednesday.
Swathes of Iraq, mainly Sunni, have witnessed largescale destruction in the war against the extremist group. Insecurity still remains in many of these areas and more than 2.5 million people are still displaced.
The Sunni coalition, known as the Union of Forces, requested elections be postponed “for a period no less than one year.”
Should elections proceed as tentatively scheduled on May 12, the Sunnis argue they should at least be postponed in the provinces most affected by the war.
The Union of Forces coalition was formed in 2014 to represent the Sunni provinces. In 2017, a Union of Iraqi Forces, largely composed of the same Sunni blocks from the first union, was formed by the Speaker of the Parliament Salim al-Jabouri to facilitate the return home of those displaced and rebuilding the provinces destroyed by the war on ISIS.
Sunni MPs have boycotted parliamentary sessions that addressed the elections. They object to holding the vote while areas are still damaged or destroyed and populations are still living in camps.
The Presidency of Iraq on Tuesday urged the parliament to confirm the election date and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said the vote will be hold on time.
The Council of Ministers has selected May 12 for the vote, but parliament still needs to approve the date.
Sunni majority areas faced the brunt of ISIS’ brutality and occupation. Cities like Mosul were severely damaged and their populations displaced during the war to oust the extremist group.
The Sunni MPs have also objected to the 2018 budget bill, calling for more funds to be allocated for the war-damaged areas.
An international conference of donors for Iraq will be held February 12-14, hosted by Kuwait together with the World Bank and the EU.