PM advisor: Requests from countries to monitor the elections

INA - BAGHDAD 

Adviser to the Prime Minister for Elections Affairs, Abdul-Hussein Al-Hindawi, confirmed on Monday, that Iraq has received requests from countries willing to participate in monitoring the elections, while pointing out that the electoral code of conduct is an ethical policy document to give guarantees to all competitors.

"It was noticed that there is a wide interest for participating in the elections, especially from the voters," said Al-Hindawi to Al-Iraqiya News TV, followed by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

He pointed out "the participation rate in the upcoming elections will be good as there are 25 million registered voters based on the data of the Ministry of Commerce, 70% of them, which is equivalent to 17 million voters, have long-term biometric cards; 14 to 15 million of them have been received," 

Al-Hindawi called on voters who did not receive their cards to return to the registration centers to received it,

Regarding the electoral conduct document, Al-Hindawi explained, "The electoral code is a political and ethical document to give guarantees to all competitors that they respect the mechanisms of the electoral process and results, because there are 3 guarantees that the results will be fair, clear and just,”

“The United Nations will send more than 130 international observers, in addition to observers from the European Union, as well as from the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and other countries,” he added.

He went on noting that “Iraq has received a set of requests from countries willing to participate in  monitoring the upcoming elections under the conditions set by the commission and Iraqi law,”