The Embassy staff worked in both cities and rural areas in the three provinces of Duhok, Erbil and Suleymania and was therefore able to cover polling centres in many parts of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Also, election experts from the EU were present to cover the full election process.

The elections were organised by the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC, www.ihec-iraq.com) and were preceded by a vivid electoral campaign period during which many different methods were used to spread the message of the parties. The results show the Gorran list party (Change list) received 24 % of the parliamentary seats and can form a new opposition to the already established Kurdistani list party. Voter turnout was high, 78.5 % in the whole region according to IHEC. The impression of the Swedish poll watchers was that of great enthusiasm and motivation among the voters and in all of the polling stations they were met with kindness and hospitality.

After the elections a statement was issued by the Swedish Presidency of the European Union. It can be found here: http://www.se2009.eu/en/meetings_news/2009/7/27/presidency_statement_on_the_presidential_and_parliamentary_elections_in_the_iraqi_kurdistan_region