ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s electoral body has barred more than 60 political parties from participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections for failing to meet requirements, an official told Rudaw on Monday.
Hayman Tahsin, head of the political parties' department at the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), told Rudaw that 349 political parties are registered in Iraq and have rights to all political activities.
Of these, only 56 political parties are taking part in the November 11 parliamentary polls.
“Some of these political parties themselves choose not to participate, while more than 60 parties are not allowed to participate due to the electoral commission's procedures,” Tahsin noted.
One of the political parties unable to participate in the race is the Kurdish Change Movement (Gorran), which has been hindered by internal disputes and leadership challenges. Its failure to hold a party congress - an IHEC requirement for election participation - has ultimately prevented it from contesting the polls.