Former Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, who ran against President Hamid Karzai in last August's presidential election, speaks during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday.
(Farzana Wahidy/AP)Photos (1 of 1)
Afghanistan runoff: Abdullah wants election chief sacked
Abdullah Abdullah, the top challenger to President Karzai in Afghanistan’s election, said Monday he would otherwise not participate in the Nov. 7 runoff. The ultimatum could be a cover to withdraw from the race.
By Julius Cavendish | Contributor 10.26.09
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Abdullah Abdullah, the main opposition candidate in Afghanistan, demanded Monday the dismissal of the country’s top election officer as a condition for taking part in a runoff vote scheduled for Nov. 7.
Many analysts see his ultimatum – which also called for the suspension of several government ministers – as highly impractical so close to the ballot. Instead, it could serve as cover for an honorable withdrawal from the race.
Although election officials have been rushing to organize a second round of voting after frontrunner President Hamid Karzai reluctantly agreed to one last week, the possibility of a powersharing deal between the two candidates has persisted as a more pragmatic solution.
Flanked by running mates, campaign aides, and turbaned elders, Dr. Abdullah said his conditions were “the most modest demands we could come up with. The people of Afghanistan … were disappointed. They don’t want to go through the same thing in a few days’ time. These are the minimum conditions” for participation in the second round.
On the subject of the Independent Election Commission’s perceived bias towards incumbent President Hamid Karzai, Abdullah referred to a quote by IEC chairman Azizullah Ludin from The New York Times: “We will have another election, and we’ll have the same result. Karzai is going to win.” Abdullah also accused the IEC of violating Afghan law by “changing results announced by the [UN-backed] Electoral Complaints Commission.”
At the very least, analysts say, Abdullah’s demands will intensify the pressure on President Karzai as the two men bargain over the make-up of the next government. “I think they are bargaining now for post-election posts,” says Omar Sharifi, a political analyst in Kabul. “This is Afghan politics. There are always behind-the-scenes talks.”
Abdullah set Oct. 31 as the deadline for his demands to be met. He refused to say whether he would boycott the runoff if they were not.
The Taliban has threatened to kill anyone taking part in the vote.
Campaigning since Karzai’s reluctant endorsement of a second round last week has been muted, with both candidates fighting their corners on US airwaves more than rallying supporters at home. Karzai questioned the reliability of the United States as a partner Sunday, as he fought off criticism of the first, fraud-ridden round of voting. Meanwhile, in an interview with CNN, Abdullah warned that US strategy in Afghanistan would fail without a credible government in Kabul as a partner.
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NYT Reporter David Rohde’s kidnapping account: Lessons for Afghanistan policymakers? Read more here.
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2. Richard Billings | 10.26.09
This is a very sad situation and will provide for considerable political uncertainty - if Abdullah choosed not to run, then there will be a portion of the Afghan population who will believe that he would have been elected president if his conditions for a fair election had been met. If he runs and looses, then some may say “yes - see the system was rigged”. Both camps will continue to support Abdullah after the election, possibly destabilizing Karzai’s rule. If Karzai loses the run off, then others may claim that his loss is due to the unwanted influence of western governments. What is needed is a mechanism to ensure that people can put aside there differences and support what ever government that is free elected. A tall order for democracy, and one that we here in the U.S. seem to be currently struggling with as well.
3. Jawan Safa | 10.26.09
Mr Julius Cavendish seems to be far too dismissive of Dr Abdullah. Dr Abdullah is not looking for a withdrawl - he is looking to keep the democratic process alive in his country.
That is a cause for which Dr Abdullah has struggled for in the past 25 years. He bacame an active member of the resistance to the dictatorial Communists - and their RED army protectors - and after they were defeated and removed from the country - Dr Abdullah continued the fight against the extremist Gulbudin Hekmatyar and afeter he was finished off - the fight against the Taliban started and that went on and on until the Taliban were removed - and now remains the Karzai regime to be defeated soon.
Considering that history of Dr Abdullah and the people with whom he has been all of his life and whom nback him today - to honour that struggle for bringing better conditions for the people of that country - and fighting epic battles - it is hardly credible to claim that Dr Abdullah is looking to withdraw.
I hope Mr Julius will come to appreciate the situation a little more deeply than being so cynical and lazy in his thinking.
4. ahad | 10.27.09
I don’t think there can be held any kind of elections.
we clearly see that karzai’s supporters try there best to change the result of the elections for his interest.
every thing is in karzai’s hands and whatever he want to utilize from the government resources he can.
of course if the head of election commission is not sacked the election will means nonsense.
finally i believe that the runoff will not be held, rather loya jirgag or grand council will be held to choose the next leader of afghanistan.
5. Gauge Fee | 10.27.09
If the history of this very volatile corner of the globe is to be any guide, the future viability of any possible arrangment has to be extremely tenuous however it is not to say that, in the interest of some short term gambits,
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, or the very idea of the same, does not enjoy a strong hand by way of one important constituency for his campaign in a sympathetic western media and by extension via the usual winning of hearts and minds, a war weary western populace.
The larger make or break decision is long overdue in the western capitals and perhaps with the good doctor presenting a more acceptable face, Afghanistan may indeed look worthy of further expending of blood and fortune called for in its salvation.
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1. zabih | 10.26.09
abdullah should bycoot the election if his conditions are not accepted.
otherwise there will be the second fabrication of vote of people.
I dont realy know why Americans are supporting from karzai event though he is an unsuccesful president. we realy want change like americans which decided to choose obama team instead of republicans.