BAGHDAD — Despite the fact that most political parties in Iraq agreed to hold elections as soon as possible, and the government of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi announced that such elections are among the priorities of the government, several conditions will seemingly prevent such goal from being achieved before the current legislative session comes to an end in 2022.

Early elections must achieve four basic conditions: the completion of the Election Law legislation; the restructuring of the Independent High Electoral Commission; the completion of the quorum of the Federal Court, which is responsible for ratifying the election results; and the provision of an appropriate security environment. The latter seems elusive given the ongoing kidnappings, assassinations and rocket firing at government headquarters and diplomatic missions both inside and outside the capital Baghdad.

Late last year, the Iraqi parliament approved an amendment to the Election Law. However, such amendment was not referred to the presidency of the republic for ratification due to differences between parliamentary blocs over the nature and number of electoral districts.

Also, parliament voted to end the work of the previous Electoral Commission, form a new commission and lay off thousands of staff members, which led to major objections about the new offices of the commission amid demands to replace dozens of local directors in the governorates.