ACSEN calls fundamental reforms for election process

Afghanistan Civil Society Elections Network (ACSEN) has called fundamental reforms for strengthening the structure of election process.

Members of this network say that the National Unity Government (NUG) does not have political will for brining electoral reforms.

They emphasized that any delay in election reforms process and failure in Selecting Committee’s work will damage the country’s political stability.

“Forming election reforms commission and brining reforms in the structure of the election commissions should be take place as soon as possible,” said Habibul Rahman Nang, member of ACSEN.

Despite President Ghani has issued a decree for electoral reforms, but the decree has been rejected by Parliament.

President Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah, in the September 2014 agreement, agreed to electoral reforms “to ensure that future elections are credible.”

The details of these reforms, when they should take place and who should design them are, however, proving contentious.

The National Unity Government agreement is quite clear that “to ensure that future elections are fully credible, the electoral system (laws and institutions) requires fundamental changes” and “that the objective is to implement electoral reform before the 2015 parliamentary elections.

” It does not however spell out what these reforms should entail, other than that the president will appoint a special commission who will report to the CEO.

According to the National Unity Government document, the president should issue a decree “immediately after the establishment of the government of national unity” to establish a “special commission for the reform of the electoral system.”

The text of the agreement gives no further details, other than that the commission would report to the CEO on its progress and present its recommendations to the cabinet for review and implementation.

President has so far, however, shown very little urgency in carrying out this pledge.

The Wolesi Jirga and the government should work together to reach a compromise over how best to carry out the reforms to the electoral law and the responsible commissions.

The remaining task for implementation of the electoral reforms should be carried out on time so to prevent further delays in announcing a date for the upcoming parliamentary elections and possible setbacks in the reforms process.