SRSG Kubiš meets with Chairman and Board of IHEC

The SRSG reiterated UNAMI’s earlier condemnation of any acts of intimidation, violence or threats against the IHEC, its staff, and their families. IHEC is one of the core elements of the democratic and constitutional order in Iraq and the Government of Iraq must provide the IHEC with all the necessary support and protection for the IHEC to be able to function effectively up until it is replaced as a result of democratic and legal process.

Until this happens, the IHEC continues to be responsible for the organization of elections in Iraq and must be enabled and empowered to fulfil its constitutional mandate free from interference and intimidation.

Any changes to the electoral legal framework, including the procedures for selecting electoral commissioners, or the composition of the IHEC have to be made only through existing legal and democratic mechanisms, through the Council of Representatives.

Therefore, UNAMI urges the Council of Representatives to finalize the ongoing review of the Election Law, the IHEC Law and to complete the work of the committee tasked with selecting the next Board of Commissioners, thus following principles of democracy and the rule of law when responding to the wishes of many Iraqis to introduce a profound reform of electoral process and institutions.