During a meeting with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert at his residence in Najaf, Sisistani said that the elections should be implemented in accordance with the principles of fairness under the law and in a way that does not benefit any particular party.
“Early elections are not a goal in and of themselves. Rather, they are the correct peaceful path out of the current deadlock,” he said, according to a press release issued by Sistani’s office.
“It is imperative that the citizens have the opportunity to reconsider their political options and to vote freely away from any pressure,” he added.
According to NRT he also said that further delaying the elections or holding them in a way that undermines confidence in their outcome would deepen Iraq’s political problems.
The elections are currently set for June 2021, a year ahead of schedule. Early polls is a key demand of the protesters who took to the streets in October last year.
“The current government is called to continue and to proceed firmly and forcefully with the steps it has taken in order to implement social justice, control border crossings, and improve the performance of security forces,” he said, adding that unauthorized weapons should be confiscated from certain groups and that those who killed protesters should be held to account.
Reporter's code: 50101