NUG failed to be decisive on brining reforms in electoral system

While the National Unity Government (NUG) expressing readiness on immediate reforms in electoral system, the Afghanistan monitoring and observation institutions FEFA, TEFA claim that President Ghani and CEO, Abdullah Abdullah had not the capacity to bring electoral reforms.

The Afghanistan monitoring and observation institutions Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) and Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan (TEFA) said that holding an election Before making fundamental reforms in the electoral system of the country will be more deadly than anything.

In his recent utterances, emphasizing on brining electoral reforms, President Ashraf Ghani said, “The Afghan government has serious determination to introduce electoral reforms as it is an urgent issue. The government is obliged to bring electoral reforms.”

At the same time, talking on the reforms in Afghanistan electoral system, the authorities of the CE of the NUG said, “Reforms in electoral commissions based on early agreement between the leaders of the NUG is one of the basic priorities of the government and a special decree should be issued by the president on which both leaders have already agreed upon to work on electoral reforms.”

More than 8 months have passed since the formation of NUG, but to practical steps for reforms have been taken so far.

The electoral supportive institutions emphasized that the Wolesi Jirga will lose its legitimacy up to the next 9 days and the NUG leaders must take practical steps for reforms before holding of the parliamentary election.

In September 2014, after months of deadlock over the contested electoral results, the two presidential candidates signed a power-sharing deal to protect national unity, introducing the office of the Chief Executive.

The relationship between Ashraf Ghani, President, and Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive, has not always been rosy with frequent conflicts erupting between the two highest offices of the state.

The latest chapter in this troubled relationship is the conflict over electoral reform. There is a shared agreement that electoral reform is of fundamental importance in order to ensure a fair electoral process on the occasion of the next Parliamentary election which will take place in September 2015.

There is still the widespread concern that the gridlock over the reform could spark further uncertainty in the country, to the point of bringing about protests and disorder should the upcoming parliamentary election be held under the same law.

Reported by Fawad Naseri