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

Next Presidential Election Schedule, As Per Constitution: IEC

Next Presidential  Election Schedule,  As Per Constitution: IEC

KABUL - The latest draft of the electoral law has overhauled the previous draft by more than 50 percent, head of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) Fazel Ahmad Mahnawi said Saturday.
Mahnawi said that major election challenges have been tackled with the latest amendments which had been called for by electoral law analysts, including the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA).
"The difference between the previous draft of the electoral law and the new one is 50 percent," he said at a press conference in Kabul.

"We've witnessed major challenges in previous elections but this new draft makes clear the scope of authority of each organization."
Tolonews understands that the changes are focused on ensuring the transparency and impartiality of the election.

Regarding a possible change in the timing of the presidential election, Mahnawi said that the election will be based on the Afghan constitution and no changes will be made in this regard.
"I believe the laws about the presidential election are very clear… it should be held with in the timeframe in accordance with constitution" he said.

"We can not hold election before schedule; the constitution has determined that in a case of preponement of elections the president should resign."

The next presidential election is due in 2014, but Afghan President Hamid Karzai said in the last fortnight that he was considering a possible change in the timing of election so as not to coincide with the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan.

Today's new electoral law announcement came as last week the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) said that Afghanistan will face fresh challenges if its electoral law is not revised and reviewed by the Afghan parliament. (Tolo News)