EWA ViewpointonRejection ofPresidential Decree on Electoral Reformby Parliament

Press Release Tuesday 14.06. 2015

The Election Watch Organization of Afghanistan is of great concern and considers the move contrary to public interests and the country’s fledgling democracy.

EWA believes the indifference of government, especially parliament toward electoral reforms is unprofessional and irresponsible and dismissal reasons of the decree cannot be justified.

We believe the repeated, unjustifiable and prolonged delay contrary to legislative procedures resulted in further distrust of people and civil society on the polling process and leave government’s commitments in this regard in doubts, and seriously deem parliament responsible for its recent decision.

To overcome the existing impasse, EWA emphasizes on below:

The government should seriously work over a new approach with the help of other legislative processes for enforcing electoral reforms.
The government should seriously require Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to interpreting article 109 of the constitution to pave the ground for electoral reforms without the approval of parliament.
The civil society following overall cooperation with other respective institutions should put necessary pressures on government by conducting lobbying and other advocacy programs to force government to adopting reforms.
Also, the international community is required to intensify its efforts for conducing free and fair elections in Afghanistan as per the pledges it had made with people and strengthening democracy.

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