Iraqi Sadr Movement threatens to storm parliament if electoral commission term extended

The Central Revolution Committee of the Sadrist movement on Monday threatened to storm the Iraqi parliament building if the electoral commission term is extended.

“The committee postponed earlier the protests to give the parliament an opportunity to choose a new election commission” committee member, Ikhlas al-Obeidi,  said at a press conference in Baghdad.

“But, apparently, this did not work” she added.

“We reject any extension of the current Election Commission term for any reason, and if the commission’s term is extended, the people will withdraw their mandate from the parliament members”.

Shia opposition leader, Moqtada al-Sadr accuses the election commission of being controlled by the ruling parties and holds it responsible for major violations in the 2014 parliamentary elections.

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The Iraqi parliament has not been able to choose a new election commission, due to political differences over nominating candidates.

Local and parliamentary elections are due to take place in Iraq in April, 2018.

Meanwhile, the commission says it needs six months as a time-frame to prepare for and hold the elections in the country.