Buying and selling election cards is another challenge to the integrity of Iraqi elections

Buying and selling election cards is another challenge to the integrity of Iraqi elections

Citizen lost confidence in elections and political parties ...

31/03/2018 - 13:57 Iraq



The phenomenon of selling Iraqi citizens their electoral cards raises the concern of the parties and the government and their fears about the impact on the upcoming elections, prompting them to take severe penalties against anyone who proves the sale or purchase of cards.

"There has been a big turnout in the process of receiving voter cards by the people," said UNHCR spokesman Karim al-Tamimi in a televised interview. "430,000 cards have been distributed in Mosul alone in recent days."

Al-Tamimi pointed out that "the Board of Commissioners decided to take many penalties and procedures to control the electoral process," noting that "Among those sanctions, the withdrawal of the ratification of any candidate or party or political alliance proves officially, and evidence categorically obtaining the voter card illegally, And that if it is proved that any person or entity will be referred to the judiciary, which will be taken against him by legal proceedings.

He added that "the penalty for those who prove to be involved in the sale or purchase of electronic cards, will reach the prison for 15 years."

This comes at a time when the sale and purchase of electoral cards by candidates and parties, in most of the provinces, especially the liberated provinces of Daqash, while warning political parties of the seriousness of this phenomenon and its threat to the next electoral process.

"The Electoral Commission must take full responsibility for the holding of fair and transparent elections and take adequate measures to immunize this process, in coordination and cooperation with other responsible parties," the candidate for the coalition said.

Stressing that "the issue of selling election cards began to take very serious dimensions, as the proliferation indicates the presence of political parties are making a great effort to the procurement process, and this involves significant risks," explaining that "the issue goes beyond the issue of obtaining votes, or invalidate the destinations And even even to challenge the electoral process from some quarters that may not get what you want in the elections. "

He called for "the speed of accountability of those parties in accordance with the law, to be a lesson for others."

These stringent measures are followed by the Commission, after signing the electoral honor document, to ensure fairness and transparency in the elections.

Observers confirm that the sale of citizens to their electoral cards comes because they lost confidence in the elections, and political parties, which led them to vote for money.

The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IHEC) confirmed on Thursday that it would withdraw the approval of any candidate or party that officially proves that it has received the voter card illegally, threatening to punish any employee of the Commission for dismissal if it proves its cooperation with any party to obtain voter cards. Selling and buying.

Legislative elections are due to take place in Iraq on May 12.

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