Iraqi Sunni coalition calls for postponing general elections

BAGHDAD, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Sunni major coalition in the Iraqi parliament Wednesday demanded postponement of upcoming general elections for six months to ensure displaced people of Sunni community returning to homes after the liberation of their cities and towns from the Islamic State (IS).

"The Iraqi Forces Alliance had requested the Iraqi parliament to postpone the polls scheduled for May 12 for six months, so that the displaced people can participate in larger numbers in the coming elections," Ahmed al-Jubouri, a Sunni lawmaker for Nineveh province, told Xinhua.

"The voter registration update is currently no more than 2 percent of the total eligible voters of Nineveh province and if it goes ahead (for May 12 elections), it will not reach 15 percent of total voters," Jubouri said.

Most of the provincial population were displaced in refugee camps, and large numbers of them still living away from their destroyed houses in other neighborhoods or even other towns, making the registration update process very difficult.

Jubouri noted that the elections under such circumstances will result in weaker representation for the Arabs, 82 percent of Nineveh's provincial population, and most of the parliamentary seats will go for other minorities.

"That will draw a new political map in the province and the majority Arabs will be the biggest victims," Jubouri added.

"We have submitted a request (from the parliament) to postpone the elections to October to ensure the participation of the largest number of displaced people and to ensure better representation for all the people of the liberated areas," Jubouri said.

However, Jubouri predicted the Sunni request, which is backed by the Kurdish lawmakers, would face strong opposition by the majority Shiite lawmakers in the parliament, who insist to hold the elections as scheduled. Moreover, the postponement request could be rejected by the Iraqi federal court.

Earlier, the cabinet of the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in coordination with the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) decided May 12 as date for the coming elections.

According to the Iraqi constitution, the parliamentary elections must be held at least 45 days before the end of the current legislative term.

The elections date must be ratified later by the current parliament before the endorsement of the Presidential Council to be fully approved.

Iraq's previous general election was held on April 30, 2014, when Iraqis elected 328 lawmakers for the parliament, which in turn elected Abadi to form an inclusive government from the Shiite alliance, Kurds and Sunnis. Enditem