Executive Office stresses on deep reforms in electoral system

Afghanistan Executive Office warns that if the government seeks or not, a deep reform will bring into the electoral system and without reforms the agreement of National Unity Government (NUG) would be meaningless.

Following allegations of widespread fraud and clear systematic shortcomings in Afghanistan’s electoral system, both President Ghani and CEO Abduallh committed to electoral reform; electoral reform is also a key component of the National Unity Government’s political agreement.

The President and the CEO have agreed to the establishment of an electoral reform commission to recommend electoral reforms to improve Afghanistan’s electoral system. The reforms are aimed to take place prior to holding the Parliamentary elections.

According to the executive office, the government leaders have begun reviews on legal procedures for start of the Selecting Committee’s work.

Deputy spokesman of executive office emphasized that the Selecting committee will begin its work in the nearest time.

“Reforms is imperative, without reforms, there will be no Loya Jirga and without Loya Jirga the constitution would not be changed and the agreement of NUG will be meaningless,” said Jawid Faisal, deputy spokesman of Executive Office.

Sayed Zafar Hashemi, President’s deputy spokesman says that the government is committed for electoral reforms and the second vice president accelerate efforts to find solutions for beginning the selecting committee’s work.

Meanwhile, a number of the Selecting Committee members warned that durability of government will be impossible if President Ghani does not issue a decree regarding the Selecting Committee.

The Selecting Committee findings indicate that there are some people in Presidential Citadel that prevent the electoral reform process.

The committee considers government’s negligence in electoral reform process a serious threat to democracy.

Due to the failure to complete the reform process as predicted, a new date for the parliamentary elections is yet to be determined.

It remains unclear if the government and the parliament will be able to set a new date soon and prevent another delay in holding the country’s key parliamentary elections.

Both the House of Representatives and the government need to work harder to deliver the task of reforms to the election law and the electoral commissions as soon as possible.

The state of constitutional limbo over the country’s electoral system and the current term of the parliament would serve no one’s interest, while a failure in producing sound electoral reforms would further undermine the country’s democratic experiment in the long run.

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.