Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Nuristani Says Govt, Donors Have Assured to Fund Elections

Nuristani Says Govt, Donors Have Assured  to Fund Elections

KABUL - The chairperson of the Independent Election Commission, Hawa Alam Nuristani, on Sunday said the Afghan government and the international community have committed to providing the budget for the presidential elections, a day after electoral observers express their concerns on the possibility of a delay in the polls due to lack of funds.
Nuristani said that sensitive election materials are being printed in Denmark as she pointed at preparations for the presidential elections.
The IEC has estimated that the elections will cost $149 million. According to Nuristani, the Afghan government will pay $90 million of the amount while the remaining will be paid by the international donors.  
“So far, there was only verbal commitment and nothing was happening in action, but now it is finalized,” Nuristani told reports in Kabul on Sunday.
Election observers are still skeptical on the ability of the election commission to steadily manage the process.
“The international community has taken a very small burden and this small share can put major pressure on the Afghan government and on the process,” said Yusuf Rasheed, the CEO of Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan. “In the past, they [the international donors] were taking a big share, but they should be more involved in the process.”
Figures by the IEC show that 5,388 polling centers will be established across the country despite concerns that some of the centers will remain closed due to insecurity.
“They [election commissioners] cannot manage the elections despite they receive budget because many districts are under high-level threats and there is a lack of trust in the elections,” said Sayed Ahmad Selab, an MP. (Tolo news)