Baghdad The independent Kurdish politician Mahmoud Othman criticized the invitation of a large number of representatives of countries and international organizations to monitor the elections, pointing out that they will not prevent its fraud.

Othman said in a statement to the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA) that the government and the Electoral Commission’s invitation to more than 70 countries and international organizations to monitor the parliamentary elections is futile, given that they will not be able to stop the fraud that will take place behind the scenes because the work of the representatives of those countries and organizations will be limited to visiting some polling stations, without knowing what is going on in fraud in other places.”

Othman stressed that the government will not be able to limit the use of weapons, nor use money and political influence to influence the results of the elections, because it is very weak, and is unable to take control of matters or take bold decisions, putting an end to uncontrolled weapons, targeting diplomatic missions and camps, and preventing armed parade in central Baghdad, all of which are evidence that things are heading towards the unknown in Iraq.”

He pointed out that the government wants international monitoring of the elections, to give them legitimacy only, regardless of the results.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency