The Iraqi Constitutional Court has issued a verdict to have the votes recounted by hand following objections to the Iraqi parliamentary elections. The Court stated that the parliament’s decision does not go against the constitution.
The discussions on the parliamentary elections held in Iraq on May 12 had resulted in the Iraqi Parliament cancelling the election outcome and recounting the votes.
There were objections to this decision by the Iraqi Parliament too. Court Chair Mithat Mahmut issued a statement in the name of the Iraqi Constitutional Court and said the Parliament’s decision does not go against the constitution. The court also approved the Parliament’s decision to remove Iraqi High Commissary of Elections members from office and appoint judges to take part in the recount by hand.
Court Chair Mithat Mahmut ruled that the decision to cancel the votes cast by voters abroad, refugees and security forces in the Kurdistan Region on charges of fraud is unconstitutional.
The Presidency, the Iraqi Independent High Commissary of Elections and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) had appealed to the Constitutional Court to cancel the Parliament’s decision.
Iraq has been in political uncertainty since the elections, in which voter turnout was historically low and protests emerged against allegations of intense fraud. The alliance between Shia leader Muqtada Sadr and the communists came in first place in the elections, while pro-Iran Hadi Al Amiri’s list was second. The two formed an alliance for the government, but an official government hasn’t been formed yet.
