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Karzai Given More Power over Afghanistan's Electoral Complaints Commission
February 24, 2010
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly

On February 23, BBC News reported that President Hamid Karzai had gained the ability to appoint all five members of Afghanistan’s Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC).  According to media reports, United Nations representative to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, stated that two members of the watchdog group will be from outside of Afghanistan, however Karzai’s decree does not stipulate any such conditions, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).  The previous composition of the commission consisted of three UN appointed members. 

In addition, RFE/RL reports that Hamid Elmi, Karzai's deputy spokesman, has stated that Karzai will not appoint any foreigners to the ECC.  Elmi also added “Afghanization has already begun and it will continue.”  Although critics state that Karzai is trying to get rid of international constraints that put limits in his political authority, Sayed Yusuf Halim, an official in Afghanistan's Justice Ministry, stated that Karzai’s decree did come with checks and balances: “The president has to decide on the composition of the Electoral Complaints Commission in consultation with the chairmen of both houses of parliament and the chief justice.”

In a speech to Afghani parliament, Karzai stated that he intended to restructure the ECC in preparation for the country’s upcoming parliamentary election.  He said that his preparations would function to limit “interference from others.”  Reuters reports that this newest development might cause Western donors to pull funding from the country’s upcoming September 18 parliamentary elections.  Donors have previously stated that they will discontinue support if electoral reforms are not put into place.  In addition, Reuters reports that the United States has not yet issued a statement regarding Karzai’s latest power grab.

In last year’s presidential election, the ECC was responsible for exposing immense amounts of fraudulent conduct.  The ECC’s discovery would have forced Karzai to submit to a second round of voting if his challenger, Abdullah Abdullah, had not dropped out of the election.  Abdullah cited that he dropped out because he believed the runoff would be fraudulent like the first round of voting that took place in August 2009.  RFE/RL also reports that Jean MacKenzie, an independent Kabul-based journalist, stated that Karzai still refuses to acknowledge that any fraudulent conduct was committed during the last presidential election. 

Sources:

BBC News - Karzai poll body power grab sparks Western concern

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - Karzai's Takeover Of Afghan Election Watchdog Raises Concerns

Reuters - Karzai criticized over Afghan poll watchdog move