Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
AT News Report
KABUL: Eight people have so far been introduced to President Ghani as candidate commissioners for the two electoral commissions, president’s spokesman said.
“So far as we know, political parties have introduced eight candidates for the independent election commission and independent electoral complaints commission to the government,” Haroon Chakhansuri said Tuesday, adding that all the candidates would be introduced by Thursday, declared as deadline for the process.
Heads and senior officials of the two electoral bodies were dismissed last week by President Ghani after he signed the amendment of the election law.
Political parties registered in the justice ministry as well as the civil society should introduce 90 people from whom the president selects 13 as commissioners and two as heads of secretariats of the electoral commissions, based on the new law.
The new law explains that gender and ethnic equality should be considered and five women should be appointed as commissioners.
Meanwhile, the electoral watchdogs say the conditions mentioned in the law should be seriously implemented.
“The candidates should hold Afghan citizenship, their ages should be over 35, they should hold bachelor of arts, they should have good reputation, they should have at least five years of management experiences, they should not have criminal backgrounds, and they should quit membership of their political parties after being appointed as commissioners,” said Yousuf Rashid, head of Free and Fair Electoral Forum of Afghanistan (FEFA).
