UN Special Representative for Iraq briefs reporters on the elections

Mr. Staffan de Mistura, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq,  briefed reporters today on the Iraqi elections via video conference. The elections held on Saturday, January 31 drew millions to the polls. The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), set up in partnership by the United Nations, was responsible for implementing elections in Iraq. While 2009 will likely see a number of electoral activities, the IHEC  initially focused its efforts on the 31 January governorate council elections. The January elections will be implemented on the basis of the 2008 Election Law, passed by the Council of Representatives. Of note, these elections will see a new election system – an open list system that will allow voters to choose not only the party for which they wish to vote but also a specific candidate. Over 14,500 candidates were approved by the Justice and Accountability Commission (“De Baathification Commission”) and certified by the IHEC to run in the January elections.  The Election Law provides special measures to ensure that women will be elected to the governorate councils. Just under 4000 women were certified to run.

Approximately 15 million individuals registered to vote for the upcoming governorate council elections.