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ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Special Representative for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said on Tuesday that there is no evidence of systematic fraud in last month’s legislative elections, despite multiple claims to the contrary by losing candidates and parties.

In her briefing to the UN Security Council in New York on developments following the elections, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert explained that the voting process was “assessed as generally peaceful, well run, featuring significant technical and procedural improvements.”

In the early days of November, violent clashes broke out as supporters of Iran-aligned militias of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) attempted to storm Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone as part of protests following the loss of parliament seats by political parties affiliated to the armed groups.

Read More: Iraqi leaders call for restraint as post-election violence escalates

Losing candidates from several parties also lodged formal claims of electoral fraud, but the head of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council later said that no clear proof of such allegations had been provided.

Read More: Iraqi judiciary says no proof of fraud in national election

“So far, and as stated by the Iraqi judiciary, there is no evidence of systemic fraud,” continued Plasschaert, adding that “any outstanding electoral concerns must only be dealt with through established legal channels, in accordance with the law.”

“Let me be clear: under no circumstances must terrorism, violence and/or any other unlawful acts be allowed to derail Iraq’s democratic process,” said the diplomat, urging “calm, restraint and dialogue” as “the only way forward,” to ease tensions across Iraq.

She pointed out, “Results will only be final after ratification by the Federal Supreme Court, which takes place once the Electoral Judicial Panel has adjudicated on those appeals brought before it,” and that, “Any unlawful attempts to prolong or…

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Home » International » UN envoy warns of precarious post-electoral situation in Iraq

United Nations, Nov 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the top UN envoy for Iraq, has warned against a precarious post-electoral situation in the country and called for early government formation.

“Plainly speaking, Iraq’s current outlook is precarious — to say the least. And in the absence of genuine reforms, the situation will not get any better. On the contrary (it will become),” she told the Security Council in a briefing via video link on Monday.

Last month’s elections were assessed as generally peaceful, well-run, featuring significant technical and procedural improvements, said Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Secretary-General’s special representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq.

She also noted that the elections were hard-earned as they emerged from an unprecedented wave of country-wide demonstrations in 2019 that resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries.

After the October elections, parties rejecting the electoral results began demonstrations and sit-ins, which escalated on November 5, with casualties reported in Baghdad. In the early hours of November 7, an assassination attempt on Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi took place.

Hennis-Plasschaert said that she has witnessed a severe lack of trust between parties, between parties and institutions, between parties and authorities in recent weeks, in addition to the long-standing lack of public trust in both politicians and institutions.

“Now, that is not without risk, as mistrust often leads to escalation. Hence, our consistent calls for political dialogue to prevail. And again, any outstanding electoral concerns must only be dealt with through established legal channels, in accordance with the law. There is no point in using others as a scapegoat for electoral grievances,”…

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