INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP
Afghanistan’s Election Challenges
Kabul/Brussels, 24 June 2009: The enormous resources and attention now focused on Afghanistan’s elections must be channelled into strengthening the country’s political and electoral institutions.
Afghanistan’s Election Challenges,* the latest report from the International Crisis Group, evaluates the challenges of the presidential and provincial council elections in August 2009 and suggests ways to strengthen processes and institutions in the run-up to National Assembly and district elections in 2010. In particular, outstanding constitutional questions need to be resolved, and there must be a better balance between the branches of government to ensure more equitable representation and increased accountability.
Forty-one candidates for president and over three thousand candidates for the provincial councils are evidence of continued interest in the political process. However, without due attention, these polls risk being a mere collection of separate events rather than a coordinated effort feeding into wider nation building.
“The neglect of electoral institutions and planning in the last years is symptomatic of an overall lack of institution building in Afghanistan”, says Joanna Nathan, Crisis Group Senior Analyst. “The current momentum must be used to drive strategic planning, looking forward beyond even the 2010 elections. Future polls have to be embedded in a broader democratic and institutional process”.
Elections only ever mirror wider societal trends, and the challenges that the 2009-2010 polls confront reflect the political, security and institutional developments — and failings — of recent years. Security conditions may make it difficult for people in areas of the south and east to exercise their franchise and could also provide the cover for mass fraud.
Technically, preparations have suffered from a failure to comprehensively build Afghan institutions, which for the first time are in sole charge of the polls, and ensure a robust legal framework and voter registry are in place to guard against fraud. Politically a highly centralised political patronage structure sees the head of state wield enormous powers, with personalities rather than policies to the fore. Such a lack of institutional development has encouraged a culture of impunity fuelling wider instability.
Ensuring the impartiality and professionalism of electoral bodies and driving security planning are essential.
“Ultimately, it is the perception of the Afghan population that will measure electoral success. If they are to be encouraged to vote, they must be confident that their ballots will count”, says Samina Ahmed, South Asia Project Director. “But if perceived to be unfairly conducted, elections could provide a potential flashpoint.”
Read the full Crisis Group briefing on our website: http://www.crisisgroup.org
