UN: Our role in Iraq’s elections is advisory
Shafaq News – Kirkuk
The United Nations reaffirmed on Tuesday that its role in Iraq’s parliamentary elections is “strictly advisory,” aimed at supporting the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) in ensuring a transparent and credible vote.
Claudio Cordone, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Electoral Assistance, told Shafaq News that the UN “works closely with IHEC to provide technical advice and assistance at all stages of the electoral process,” emphasizing that the goal is to “guarantee fair elections that truly reflect the will of the Iraqi voter.”
The international community, he said, is closely following Iraq’s elections and remains committed to supporting national institutions to maintain a secure and stable environment that encourages broad participation.
Cordone added that polling in Kirkuk was proceeding smoothly and that UN observers had noted “clear compliance with electoral procedures and regulations” inside voting centers.
Iraq’s general elections began earlier today, with nearly 20 million eligible voters selecting 329 members of parliament from over 7,000 candidates representing 37 political alliances and coalitions nationwide.
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