Iraqi PM discusses the provincial council election security plan

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, highlighted the importance of preserving the electoral process and applying the law.

Al-Sudani’s statement took place during a meeting he chaired on Wednesday with senior security officials, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The Iraqi Prime Minister indicated the importance of maintaining security and stability in the country, as they are directly linked to development plans that aim to advance all vital sectors, especially in terms of services provided to citizens.

The Prime Minister was briefed on the security plan that will be applied to secure the electoral process of the upcoming provincial council elections in Baghdad and the governorates.

Al-Sudani also noted that the election security strategy must be continuously revised to address any changes or unexpected security incidents.

The Iraqi Premier and the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zedan, discussed on Tuesday the government’s preparations to hold the provincial council elections on December 18.

The meeting also addressed strategies to enhance cooperation between the Iraqi judiciary and security agencies to guarantee the success of the elections.

The provincial elections will cover 15 out of the 18 governorates, as the remaining three governorates belong to the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

In June, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced that it had decided to open the door for the registration of alliances and parties wishing to participate in the provincial council elections from July 1 until July 30.

The IHEC mentioned earlier that more than 16 million Iraqis have the right to vote and that more than 200,000 IHEC employees will supervise the voting.

There are 285 seats in provincial councils, with 10 seats designated for minorities.