Deputy Speaker Dr. Hemin Hawrami meets with Germany's Consul General Klemens Semtner

Kurdistan Parliament Deputy Speaker Dr. Hemin Hawrami on 13 April 2022 welcomed Germany's Consul General Mr. Klemens Semtner. They discussed the latest political developments and the importance for the democratic process of holding a timely Kurdistan Parliament election.

Deputy Speaker Hawrami said that there is no political excuse for Parliament failing so far to renew the mandate of the Kurdistan High Election Commission, which expired in December 2019. It is Parliament's legal responsibility to renew the commission's mandate. 

Parliament also needs to hold the first reading of any proposed amendments to the Kurdistan Election Law, he said. 

He added that while the Kurdistan Parliament should carry out the necessary legislative processes for the election commission and election law, at the same time the parties can continue discussions to reach a political agreement.

Dr. Hawrami said that the number of seats reserved for Kurdistan Region's ethnic and religious communities must be kept as they are, to safeguard their rights and maintain Kurdistan's peaceful coexistence between all its components. 

Consul General Semtner thanked Deputy Speaker Hawrami for the insightful meeting.