The process of auditing every vote cast in the June runoff election is over. Presidential rivals Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani must bury the hatchet for the sake of democracy in Afghanistan.
Any further delay in resolving the crisis could have disastrous consequences for democracy. Bari Salam, an activist, observed the rival candidates have vast experience in political affairs. “When they are not able to come to an agreement, what value is democracy and diplomacy in Afghanistan?” he asked.
Kabul resident Fahima Afghan has tired of the implacable situation. “Supporters and allies of both candidates are thinking only of the benefits to them; how to get a position in the new government. They are looking only at earning back all the money spent on the election campaign. Pressures such as this have prevented the two from coming to an agreement,” she said.
Already there are clashes in public. At a programme on Martyrs Day, Sep 9, to commemorate the assassination of Ahmad Shah Massoud, Abdullah Abdullah had to urge his Reform and Partnership team supporters not to resort to violence. But they disrupted the programme by refusing to allow Sibghatullah Mojadedi to speak. Mojadedi, who had said earlier that Dr Abdullah was not an appropriate choice as president of Afghanistan, was booed off the stage, and the event was concluded prematurely.
There are strong rumours that power may be handed over to a military council or interim government. Some observers are speculating that President Hamid Karzai may stay on. A future course that is not borne out of an election, or decided by the people, would have little political validity. It would be at the cost of democratic order and constitutional process.
National interest
Setara Adeeb, a civil rights activist, said the two candidates have shown a “mistrust of democracy, lack of respect for the electorate or its opinion, and refusal to sacrifice personal for national interest”. The sanctity of the constitutional process would be saved only if the two can come to an agreement. “Division of power (between them) was not a solution … it would be at the cost of national interest,” she said.
Meanwhile at another event on Martyrs Day President Karzai urged the rival candidates to hammer out an agreement because Afghanistan was waiting for a new government.
“Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani can form a new government and start their work as soon as possible,” he appealed.
Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raouf Ibrahimi said at the start of the new session (eighth session) that political uncertainty has exacerbated insecurity and economic crisis, and both Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani were responsible.
Members of Parliament have urged the Independent Election Commission (IEC) to announce the results of the audit.
On Sep 10, the IEC refused to say when the results would be announced, and instead announced the compilation of presidential election results would be completed by the end of the week. IEC spokesperson Noor Mohammad Noor told journalists he hoped the candidates would reach a political agreement before the announcement of the election results. The 50-day full vote audit ended on Sep 4, but the results are yet to be announced due to differences between the presidential candidates.
Presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani has ruled out forming a unity government based on a division of power with his rival. Speaking at a press conference, Sep 10, he added that he is ready for a unity government that respects Afghan voters and the constitution. “Everyone can be part of a national unity government and everyone must be accountable,” he said.
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