Hoda Jassim (Baghdad)
In the capital, Baghdad, and the rest of the Iraqi cities, except for the Kurdistan region, electoral campaigns began for 5,915 candidates for provincial councils in the elections scheduled to be held this month, including 4,258 men and 1,657 women, while 357 candidates were excluded. The facades of buildings and streets were crowded with pictures of candidates and the names of their alliances and their numbers after the Independent High Electoral Commission approved and obligated all parties, alliances and individual lists to open a bank account and submit an estimated statement of accounts for the expenses that will be spent on the electoral campaigns.
Director General of the Department of Political Parties and Organizations Affairs at the Independent High Electoral Commission, Heman Tahseen, said, “For the first time, the Commission has approved the instructions for the maximum spending on electoral campaigns, obliging all parties, alliances, and individual lists to open a bank account, and submit an estimated statement of accounts for the expenses that will be spent on Election campaigns are required to submit an initial report, a final report, and accredit a bank accountant. Regarding violations in advertising campaigns, Tahseen confirmed that “the Commission has formed committees to monitor violations throughout the electoral campaign period. They monitor violations and refer them to the Commission, so that the appropriate decision can be taken regarding them.”
#Iraq. #start #electoral #campaigns #provincial #council #candidates