Abdullah Withdraws from Afghan Runoff, Alleging Fraud
Related subjects: Afghanistan, Asia / Pacific, Open Government, Rights & Freedoms, The Vote Comments (0)
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistan’s former foreign minister, has declared his withdrawal in protest from the presidential runoff election against Pres. Hamid Karzai. Abdullah says Karzai’s refusal to make key changes to the electoral commission —appointed by Karzai— to prevent a repeat of massive widespread fraud means there is no way the runoff can be free, fair and transparent.
Abdullah’s withdrawal is reportedly too late to be official, meaning his name should still appear on the ballot and he may still receive millions of votes. Abdullah has reportedly not called for a boycott of the polls and has requested that his supporters not take to the streets or engage in any armed resistance. But his withdrawal both males mor likely a Karzai win and calls into question the legitimacy of the process and of any continued Karzai rule.
The news is also a significant strategic complication, as the US contemplates an increase in troop numbers deployed to Afghanistan. With consensus clearly indicating massive fraud committed by officials of the Karzai government, the clean-up half-hearted at best, and the opposition candidate withdrawing in protest, the legitimacy, and therefore viability of a continued Karzai presidency will be permanently in question, meaning the US administration and coalition military commanders will have little hope of both enjoying the close cooperation of the government and expecting the Afghan population broadly to support that government or the US presence in Afghanistan.
After decades of brutality and warlordism, the last thing the Afghan population can be expected to trust is a foreign military operation in league with an openly corrupt government. A Karzai win could make the US job in Afghanistan significantly harder, if Karzai does not enjoy genuine democratic support. Pres. Karzai can be expected to say he won’t be bullied into removing qualified figures from the electoral commission, but calls around Afghanistan for more diverse and more representative government, perhaps even for a tribal democracy with no majority national coalitions, would suggest the sustainability of a new Afghan democracy requires a successful demonstration of the legitimacy and sincerity of public service as public service.
CafeSentido Partner Sites: