Iraq’s Kurdistan to go to polls on Oct. 20

The elections to pick the 100 representatives in the northern region’s legislature were initially scheduled for October 2022, and were last due to be held earlier this month, which did not happen. (AFP/File)
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Updated 26 June 2024
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Iraq’s Kurdistan to go to polls on Oct. 20

IRBIL: Parliamentary elections in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region will be held on Oct. 20, the regional presidency announced Wednesday, after delays and political quarrels repeatedly pushed back the vote.

The elections to pick the 100 representatives in the northern region’s legislature were initially scheduled for October 2022, and were last due to be held earlier this month, which did not happen.

“The parliamentary elections in Iraq’s Kurdistan will be held on Oct. 20,” said a decree from regional President Nechirvan Barzani, read by his spokesman Dilshad Shahab in a televised statement.

In February, the federal court issued a ruling to reduce the number of seats in the Kurdish parliament from 111 to 100, effectively eliminating a quota reserved for Turkmen and Christian minorities. The decision sparked the ire of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, one of the region’s two historic parties which holds key positions of power.


Palestinian factions offer support for Gaza technocratic committee

Updated 48 min 21 sec ago
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Palestinian factions offer support for Gaza technocratic committee

  • Palestinian National Transitional Committee to administer Gaza backed by presidency

CAIRO: The majority of Palestinian factions and the presidency offered their support for the Palestinian technocratic committee meant to govern Gaza, after mediator Egypt announced on Wednesday that all parties had agreed on its members.
In a statement, Palestinian factions including Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they had agreed “to support the mediators’ efforts in forming the Palestinian National Transitional Committee to administer the Gaza Strip, while providing the appropriate environment” for it to begin its work.
The Ramallah-based Palestinian presidency also announced its support in official media, with a source from the office telling AFP the statement “reflects the position of the Fatah movement because President (Mahmud) Abbas is also the head of Fatah.”