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| Iraq |
| Iraq Election Commission Withdraws Resignations |
| 2014-03-31 |
| [An Nahar] The board of Iraq's election commission withdrew its collective resignation Sunday, partly after an appeal from the United Nations ...boodling on the grand scale... mission to Storied Baghdad, state television ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe? and a diplomatic source said. The nine-member board of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) had resigned en masse over alleged parliamentary and judicial interference on Tuesday, sparking concern a general election due to be held on April 30 could be delayed. But Iraqiya state TV, quoting election commissioner Gaata al-Zobaie, said on Sunday that the board had withdrawn its collective resignation. The commissioners rescinded their resignations "after talking with regional and international" organizations, including the United Nations, a diplomatic source told Agence La Belle France Presse, speaking on condition of anonymity ... for fear of being murdered... The IHEC's board has been frustrated with what they say is a vague provision in Iraq's electoral law that requires parliamentary hopefuls to be "of good reputation." Based on that article, a judicial panel has barred several prospective politicians, including Maliki opponents such as former finance minister Rafa al-Essawi, with no obvious avenue of appeal. Parliament has meanwhile reportedly ruled that the IHEC must not bar any candidates unless they have criminal convictions, a decision an electoral official said was at odds with that of the judicial panel. |
| Posted by:Fred |