GPS News
THE STANS
Iraqi court suspends Kurdistan election preparations
Iraqi court suspends Kurdistan election preparations
by AFP Staff Writers
Baghdad (AFP) May 7, 2024

Iraq's highest court on Tuesday temporarily suspended preparations for June 10 parliamentary elections in the autonomous northern Kurdistan region, a source of tension between the two main Kurdish parties.

The Federal Supreme Court suspended procedures related to "the registration of lists of candidates", while it decides on another case linked to legislative elections in Kurdistan, a statement on the court's website said.

Kurdistan's prime minister, Masrour Barzani, had filed an appeal to the supreme court arguing the "unconstitutionality" of the division of electoral constituencies planned for the vote.

While awaiting a verdict, Barzani requested "a halt and suspension of the procedures of the electoral commission".

"The proceedings are suspended from today until the verdict," an electoral commission source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The suspension comes amid a long-running conflict between the region's two historic parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

The court issued a ruling in February to reduce the number of seats in the Kurdish parliament from 111 to 100, effectively eliminating a quota reserved for Turkmen, Armenian and Christian minorities.

In response, Barzani's KDP said it would boycott legislative polls and did not register candidates.

Since then the KDP pushed for postponement of the June 10 elections, which had initially been scheduled for October 2022, but were pushed back several times.

The PUK has opposed any delay in holding the elections.

Tuesday's verdict comes as Kurdistan's president, Nechirvan Barzani, is visiting Iranian leaders in Tehran, after meeting senior politicians in Baghdad.

The KDP is the largest party in the outgoing parliament, with 45 seats against 21 for the PUK.

The Kurdistan region has been autonomous since 1991, and presents itself as an oasis of stability favourable to foreign investment in Iraq.

However, activists and opposition figures denounce what they say is corruption, repression of dissident voices and arbitrary arrests in the region.

Related Links
News From Across The Stans

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
THE STANS
Suspected Kashmir rebels kill Indian air force corporal
Srinagar, India (AFP) May 5, 2024
An Indian air force member was killed and four more injured when suspected rebels ambushed a military convoy in Indian-administered Kashmir, an official statement said, as campaigning for national elections continues in the disputed territory. The convoy was attacked by an unknown number of armed militants who sprayed automatic rifle fire towards at least one air force truck in the mountainous Poonch area, 200 kilometres (124 miles) south of the main city of Srinagar, the air force said in a stateme ... read more

THE STANS
Polish farmers protest 'harmful' EU environmental rules

New Climate-Adaptive Crop Lab at University of Essex Targets Future Food Security

Brazil floods strike blow to powerful agriculture sector

Urgent call to democratize knowledge for global food system overhaul

THE STANS
Enhanced pure red light-emitting devices advance wearable technology

World's purest silicon propels quantum computing advancements

Chip giant TSMC's April revenue jumps 60% on-year

Experiment Allows for Potential Millions of Qubits on Single Chip

THE STANS
Health body recommends Brussels night flight ban

Australian PM calls China warplane conduct 'unacceptable'

Air Force secretary gets taste of future of aviation combat in AI-piloted craft

Japan confirms navy choppers collided in April accident

THE STANS
US to raise tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles: report

Nissan net profit nearly doubles despite China challenges

Clashes as protesters try to force entry into German Tesla plant

BMW says EU probe into China EV subsidies against free trade

THE STANS
China's Xi in Hungary celebrates 'history's best' relations with Orban

Chinese cities lift curbs on buying homes as property crisis bites

China consumer prices rise at faster rate in April

London, Frankfurt hit records as rate hopes boost markets

THE STANS
Envious shamans and pollution: Diverse threats to Ecuadoran Amazon

Market-based schemes not reducing deforestation, poverty: report

Reevaluation of carbon-capture models highlights inaccuracies

Two charged in UK over 'Robin Hood tree' cut down

THE STANS
Ariane 6 set to launch 3Cat-4 CubeSat for Earth observation

China sees continued decline in NOx emissions despite higher fossil fuel use

ICEYE launches new APIs for direct satellite tasking and data access

Satellogic unveils expansive high-resolution image dataset for AI training

THE STANS
Researchers unveil novel technique for creating atomically thin nanoscrolls

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.