Sunday August 2, 2015
Kabul (BNA) Ultimately after long and hot discussions among the NUG leaders, Electoral Reform Commission (ERC) formed, its members committed themselves to bring substantial changes in electoral system and emphasize on holding of a transparent and fraud free elections.
Talking on the goals and plans of ERC for change of electoral system and their priorities for this purpose, deputy chairman of ERC Siddiqullah Tawhidi said, Since the formation of ERC, we have been involved in consultation with civil societies, international donors to Afghanistan, people and political elites, and we have plan to travel to seven zones of the country and collect opinions of people. He went on to say, “After collection of opinions, points of views, drafts, we will categorize them and respectively study them. Then we use them to amend the law on election and law on organization jobs and authorities of electoral commissions and send them as a finalized package until the end of the next month to the government. The government will have a ten days opportunity to study it and then the president will approve it in a legislative decree.”
Answering a question on the wish of the Afghan people for bringing of reforms in electoral system and remaining of short time for this purpose, assuring the people on their efforts, deputy chairman of ERC, Tawhidi said, “This law needs changes and we make our best efforts to change the electoral system. We will study all issues extensively and then bring essential amendments in electoral laws and commissions and finally hand it to government over.” Unfortunately the last election was a controversial election, what are your future drafts and recommendations for holding of a better election and how you would manage to rehabilitate the people lost confidence to electoral commissions? Tawhidi said, “The ERC will study everything and pick up the best ones. We are working on the quality of picking up of commissionaires, duration of their jobs, number of polling stations, number of the parliament seats, share of women and protection of the rights of religious minorities etc.”
Responding a question, if all wishes and demands are not met on due time, what would be the subsequent step, Tawhidi said, “We have already prioritized our programs in short, medium and long term sections. First we will deal with urgent issues. We will work on basic in short term and then will be dealing on the organization of structure of electoral commissions so to reduce or eliminate fraud. We will finalize our recommendations in three months and send to government.” Some people believe that the government has no determination to bring reforms in electoral system but rejecting this claim, the ERC deputy chairman emphasized that the establishment of ERC precisely showed that the government is committed to reform electoral system. When the president approved it all suspicions and guesses will be eliminated. Tawhidi asked the civil society, the world community and the Afghan people to send their opinions, views, suggestions on amendments in election laws and electoral commissions as soon as possible due to short time. Touching the hopes for holding of parliamentary elections and district councils on due time, Tawhidi went on to say, if reforms are implemented quickly, I believe that, fraud will be reduced. I hope we will manage to organize elections next spring. Suraya Raiszada
