Deputy Speaker Dr. Hemin Hawrami welcomes UK's new Consul General, Ms. Rosy Cave
Kurdistan Parliament Deputy Speaker Dr. Hemin Hawrami on 25 January 2023 welcomed the UK’s new Consul General in Kurdistan Region, Ms. Rosy Cave. They discussed the latest political developments and the parties’ talks on holding the next Kurdistan Parliament election.
Deputy Speaker Hawrami congratulated Consul General Cave on her new posting and wished her success.
Deputy Speaker Hawrami said that fortunately the parties are finding some common ground in their talks on the next Kurdistan Parliament election, which must be held before the end of this Parliament’s extension to 31 December 2023. This Parliament was extended for one year to prevent a legal vacuum, but cannot be extended further, he said.
The Deputy Speaker said that holding a free, fair and timely election is the public’s right.
On the issue of the 11 reserved seats for Kurdistan’s Christian, Turkmen and Armenian communities, Dr. Hawrami said it is up to the communities themselves to decide which voting system they wish to use. The decisions of Kurdistan’s ethnic and religious communities will be respected, he said.
Deputy Speaker Hawrami said, “To hold the first reading of amendments to the Election Law, which have been proposed and submitted by different parties to Parliament’s Presidency, and to renew the mandate of the election commission, we must schedule an extraordinary Parliament sitting. After reaching some consensus on these bills, Parliament should arrange their second reading and then vote on them. At the same time, the electoral commission’s mandate will be renewed and the vacant positions in the commission filled. Then the commission can prepare the technicalities for holding the election this year."
Deputy Speaker Hawrami asked the UK to support Kurdistan’s democratic process through the international community, the UN and organizations that monitor elections.
Consul General Cave thanked Deputy Speaker Hawrami for welcome her and for the briefing on the recent developments.
