Iraq Turkmen cry foul over Peshmerga 'double-vote' plan

By Ali Mukarrem Garip

KIRKUK, Iraq (AA) - Iraqi Turkmen are crying foul over plans to give Peshmerga fighters loyal to northern Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government double voting rights in parliamentary polls slated for May 12.

Ali Ekrem, a Kirkuk-based member of the Turkmeneli Party, told reporters Thursday that plans to allow Peshmerga fighters to vote twice -- once as civilians and once as military personnel -- would violate Iraq’s constitution.

“They should be allowed to cast only one ballot,” he said. “They cannot be allowed to cast a ballot in the Kurdish region and another one in Kirkuk.”

The Turkmeneli Party, Ekrem added, had already sent a letter of protest to Iraq’s official electoral commission over the matter.

It remains unclear, however, how the electoral commission will respond to the complaint.