UNAMI chief says Iraq must end political standstill, begin reforms
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The head of the United Nations mission to Iraq on Tuesday said the process of finalizing the election results must not drag on because the country is in desperate need of strong political leadership to address a range of critical issues.
“While the risk of continued political deadlock is real, Iraq desperately needs a government that is able to swiftly and effectively tackle the long list of unfinished domestic business,” Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert told the UN Security Council.
Iraq held parliamentary elections on October 10 and released preliminary results the following day. Six weeks later, the results are still not finalized and the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) is still doing manual recounts to follow up on appeals. Pro-Iran parties that did poorly rejected the results and their supporters have staged protests. At least one person was killed and 125 injured when protesters clashed with security forces in Baghdad on November 5. Two days later, an explosive-laden drone was used in an attack on the residence of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, in what security forces called an attempted assassination.
The UN and European Union, which both had large observation teams monitoring the vote, have said it was well-managed and commended IHEC's efforts.
Hennis-Plasschaert said it is important the process of finalizing the election result does not “drag on… Clearly time is of the essence.”
It is “high time for Iraq to emerge from prolonged political standstill and to establish dynamic, responsive governance mechanisms,” she said, noting that the early election was held in response to a widespread protest movement.
In October 2019, thousands of Iraqis took to the streets for weeks of protests, condemning government corruption and failure to provide basic services. They demanded an overhaul to the political system. Hundreds lost their lives in the demonstrations.
“Their demands and grievances remain as relevant as ever,” said Hennis-Plasschaert. “And as we all know, simmering anger easily swells.”
“Plainly speaking, Iraq’s current outlook is precarious, to say the least. And in the absence of genuine reforms, the situation will not get any better,” she added.
About a quarter of all Iraqis live in poverty and unemployment is high. Thousands of Iraqis, many of them Kurds, have made the costly, dangerous decision to try and emigrate to Europe and ended up trapped in the bitter cold on the Poland-Belarus border, victims in a dispute between Minsk and the European Union.
In the Kurdistan Region this week, university students have protested for several days in a row, demanding reinstatement of a government allowance that was cut seven years ago as part of austerity measures. Security forces have used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the students.
On Monday, the United States updated its travel advisory, warning people not to travel to Iraq because of “civil unrest.”
“Demonstrations, protests, and strikes occur frequently. These events can develop quickly without prior notification, often interrupting traffic, transportation, and other services; such events have the potential to turn violent,” the advisory states.
“While the risk of continued political deadlock is real, Iraq desperately needs a government that is able to swiftly and effectively tackle the long list of unfinished domestic business,” Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert told the UN Security Council.
Iraq held parliamentary elections on October 10 and released preliminary results the following day. Six weeks later, the results are still not finalized and the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) is still doing manual recounts to follow up on appeals. Pro-Iran parties that did poorly rejected the results and their supporters have staged protests. At least one person was killed and 125 injured when protesters clashed with security forces in Baghdad on November 5. Two days later, an explosive-laden drone was used in an attack on the residence of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, in what security forces called an attempted assassination.
The UN and European Union, which both had large observation teams monitoring the vote, have said it was well-managed and commended IHEC's efforts.
Hennis-Plasschaert said it is important the process of finalizing the election result does not “drag on… Clearly time is of the essence.”
It is “high time for Iraq to emerge from prolonged political standstill and to establish dynamic, responsive governance mechanisms,” she said, noting that the early election was held in response to a widespread protest movement.
In October 2019, thousands of Iraqis took to the streets for weeks of protests, condemning government corruption and failure to provide basic services. They demanded an overhaul to the political system. Hundreds lost their lives in the demonstrations.
“Their demands and grievances remain as relevant as ever,” said Hennis-Plasschaert. “And as we all know, simmering anger easily swells.”
“Plainly speaking, Iraq’s current outlook is precarious, to say the least. And in the absence of genuine reforms, the situation will not get any better,” she added.
About a quarter of all Iraqis live in poverty and unemployment is high. Thousands of Iraqis, many of them Kurds, have made the costly, dangerous decision to try and emigrate to Europe and ended up trapped in the bitter cold on the Poland-Belarus border, victims in a dispute between Minsk and the European Union.
In the Kurdistan Region this week, university students have protested for several days in a row, demanding reinstatement of a government allowance that was cut seven years ago as part of austerity measures. Security forces have used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the students.
On Monday, the United States updated its travel advisory, warning people not to travel to Iraq because of “civil unrest.”
“Demonstrations, protests, and strikes occur frequently. These events can develop quickly without prior notification, often interrupting traffic, transportation, and other services; such events have the potential to turn violent,” the advisory states.