This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/21/world/asia/afghan-presidential-election.html
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| New Wrinkle in Afghan Vote That’s Been Anything but Smooth | New Wrinkle in Afghan Vote That’s Been Anything but Smooth |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| KABUL, Afghanistan — Sultan Ahmad may well have lost his finger for nothing. | |
| Not only will the new Afghan president have to share power in a deal meant to avert possible violence, but now even that negotiated solution to an election that cost Mr. Ahmad his finger is in question. | Not only will the new Afghan president have to share power in a deal meant to avert possible violence, but now even that negotiated solution to an election that cost Mr. Ahmad his finger is in question. |
| After months of negotiations over the disputed election, the final sticking point is the insistence by Abdullah Abdullah, who is expected to be the loser, that he will agree on the formation of a national unity government only if election authorities do not publicly disclose their now-completed final tally. | After months of negotiations over the disputed election, the final sticking point is the insistence by Abdullah Abdullah, who is expected to be the loser, that he will agree on the formation of a national unity government only if election authorities do not publicly disclose their now-completed final tally. |
| Mr. Abdullah contends that the recent audit of the fraud-ridden election could not possibly detect all the fake ballots, so the final result should not be announced despite the legal requirement to do so. | Mr. Abdullah contends that the recent audit of the fraud-ridden election could not possibly detect all the fake ballots, so the final result should not be announced despite the legal requirement to do so. |
| His rival, Ashraf Ghani, is widely expected to be declared the winner of the election after the protracted and contentious audit of all the ballot boxes, overseen by the United Nations. For many of the millions of Afghans who voted in the original April 6 election, and then in the runoff election on June 14, withholding the results would be a bitter disappointment — especially for voters who dipped their index fingers in indelible ink to show they had voted, knowing full well that could rouse the ire of insurgents who had warned voters to boycott the poll. | His rival, Ashraf Ghani, is widely expected to be declared the winner of the election after the protracted and contentious audit of all the ballot boxes, overseen by the United Nations. For many of the millions of Afghans who voted in the original April 6 election, and then in the runoff election on June 14, withholding the results would be a bitter disappointment — especially for voters who dipped their index fingers in indelible ink to show they had voted, knowing full well that could rouse the ire of insurgents who had warned voters to boycott the poll. |
| Mr. Ahmad was among 11 men in Herat Province’s Koshke Kohna District whose fingers were cut off by the Taliban as punishment the day after the June vote. They were caught because the indelible ink takes three days to wear off to prevent repeat voting. Even if the election results are announced, Afghan voters will have good reason to be disappointed by their two risky forays to the polls this year. The new government that results from the election will be based only partly on who is deemed to have won the poll. Both sides have finished negotiating on the formation of a national unity government, a power-sharing arrangement with Mr. Ghani as president and Mr. Abdullah or someone he nominates in a new post of chief executive. | Mr. Ahmad was among 11 men in Herat Province’s Koshke Kohna District whose fingers were cut off by the Taliban as punishment the day after the June vote. They were caught because the indelible ink takes three days to wear off to prevent repeat voting. Even if the election results are announced, Afghan voters will have good reason to be disappointed by their two risky forays to the polls this year. The new government that results from the election will be based only partly on who is deemed to have won the poll. Both sides have finished negotiating on the formation of a national unity government, a power-sharing arrangement with Mr. Ghani as president and Mr. Abdullah or someone he nominates in a new post of chief executive. |
| “They are shamelessly stepping over people’s votes and cutting a deal to share power,” said an Afghan senator, Belqis Roshan, criticizing both candidates. “Those whose fingers were chopped off did not fear from any threats and bravely went to cast their votes. Now their pride is broken since their will and their votes will be compromised by this deal.” | “They are shamelessly stepping over people’s votes and cutting a deal to share power,” said an Afghan senator, Belqis Roshan, criticizing both candidates. “Those whose fingers were chopped off did not fear from any threats and bravely went to cast their votes. Now their pride is broken since their will and their votes will be compromised by this deal.” |
| The composition of that government was agreed on by both candidates last Sunday and was due to be announced last Tuesday, according to Western diplomats, when Mr. Abdullah’s team insisted on the condition that the vote tally be withheld. | The composition of that government was agreed on by both candidates last Sunday and was due to be announced last Tuesday, according to Western diplomats, when Mr. Abdullah’s team insisted on the condition that the vote tally be withheld. |
| A draft copy of the four-page agreement between the two campaigns was obtained by The New York Times, although the final wording of some points may have changed slightly since it was written, according to diplomats and campaign officials. The agreement gives substantial powers to the newly created position of chief executive officer, defining it as having “the functions of an executive prime minister.” | A draft copy of the four-page agreement between the two campaigns was obtained by The New York Times, although the final wording of some points may have changed slightly since it was written, according to diplomats and campaign officials. The agreement gives substantial powers to the newly created position of chief executive officer, defining it as having “the functions of an executive prime minister.” |
| The agreement also creates a council of ministers, headed by the chief executive and including two deputy C.E.O.s and all cabinet ministers. “The Council of Ministers will implement the executive affairs of the government,” the agreement states. In addition, while the president would head his cabinet, which also includes the ministers, “The C.E.O. will be responsible for managing the cabinet’s implementation of government policies, and will report on progress to the president directly and in the cabinet.” | The agreement also creates a council of ministers, headed by the chief executive and including two deputy C.E.O.s and all cabinet ministers. “The Council of Ministers will implement the executive affairs of the government,” the agreement states. In addition, while the president would head his cabinet, which also includes the ministers, “The C.E.O. will be responsible for managing the cabinet’s implementation of government policies, and will report on progress to the president directly and in the cabinet.” |
| Another clause calls for “parity in the selection of personnel between the president and the C.E.O. at the level of head of key security and economic institutions, and independent directorates.” | Another clause calls for “parity in the selection of personnel between the president and the C.E.O. at the level of head of key security and economic institutions, and independent directorates.” |
| In negotiations between the two campaigns, Mr. Abdullah’s side pushed for the chief executive to be given real powers, and the draft agreement appears to have granted that. | In negotiations between the two campaigns, Mr. Abdullah’s side pushed for the chief executive to be given real powers, and the draft agreement appears to have granted that. |
| But it remains to be seen how workable such a hybrid government would be. Its difficulties were noted in a catchall clause in the agreement: “The relationship between the president and the C.E.O. cannot be described solely and entirely by this agreement, but must be defined by the commitment of both sides to partnership, collegiality, collaboration, and most importantly responsibility to the people of Afghanistan.” | But it remains to be seen how workable such a hybrid government would be. Its difficulties were noted in a catchall clause in the agreement: “The relationship between the president and the C.E.O. cannot be described solely and entirely by this agreement, but must be defined by the commitment of both sides to partnership, collegiality, collaboration, and most importantly responsibility to the people of Afghanistan.” |
| More votes were recorded in the runoff than in the first election, which Mr. Abdullah won handily but without the 50 percent majority needed to avoid a runoff. Preliminary results from the runoff named Mr. Ghani the winner by a large margin. | More votes were recorded in the runoff than in the first election, which Mr. Abdullah won handily but without the 50 percent majority needed to avoid a runoff. Preliminary results from the runoff named Mr. Ghani the winner by a large margin. |
| The Abdullah campaign responded by accusing Mr. Ghani of industrial-scale fraud supported by the incumbent president, Hamid Karzai. At one point there were fears that the dispute could end in violence, with Mr. Abdullah’s supporters threatening to create a parallel government. | The Abdullah campaign responded by accusing Mr. Ghani of industrial-scale fraud supported by the incumbent president, Hamid Karzai. At one point there were fears that the dispute could end in violence, with Mr. Abdullah’s supporters threatening to create a parallel government. |
| The United States secretary of state, John Kerry, came to Kabul to lead talks aimed at resolving the crisis, and came up with the solution of a national unity government, with the losing candidate assuming the post of chief executive. Neither the unity government nor the positions created for it have any basis in the constitution of Afghanistan or its election law. | The United States secretary of state, John Kerry, came to Kabul to lead talks aimed at resolving the crisis, and came up with the solution of a national unity government, with the losing candidate assuming the post of chief executive. Neither the unity government nor the positions created for it have any basis in the constitution of Afghanistan or its election law. |
| Both candidates signed an agreement on Aug. 8 to form the unity government, and to accept the results of the audit of the votes. But Mr. Abdullah later withdrew from the audit, insisting that it was not fair and refusing to accept it. | Both candidates signed an agreement on Aug. 8 to form the unity government, and to accept the results of the audit of the votes. But Mr. Abdullah later withdrew from the audit, insisting that it was not fair and refusing to accept it. |
| A spokesman for Mr. Abdullah, Muslim Saadat, on Saturday confirmed that the details of a deal on a government had been agreed by both campaigns. “The main sticking point is the announcement of the results,” Mr. Saadat said. “The results of the I.E.C. will not have legitimacy since the audit failed to separate fraudulent votes from legitimate ones.” | A spokesman for Mr. Abdullah, Muslim Saadat, on Saturday confirmed that the details of a deal on a government had been agreed by both campaigns. “The main sticking point is the announcement of the results,” Mr. Saadat said. “The results of the I.E.C. will not have legitimacy since the audit failed to separate fraudulent votes from legitimate ones.” |
| Noor Ahmad Noor, the spokesman for the Independent Election Commission, said the election results would be released publicly on Sunday regardless of any negotiations taking place between the candidates. “It is nothing to do with us at the I.E.C. what the candidates are doing,” he said. | Noor Ahmad Noor, the spokesman for the Independent Election Commission, said the election results would be released publicly on Sunday regardless of any negotiations taking place between the candidates. “It is nothing to do with us at the I.E.C. what the candidates are doing,” he said. |
| However, both campaigns and many diplomats here have urged the commission not to announce its results until a final deal on a unity government is announced. | However, both campaigns and many diplomats here have urged the commission not to announce its results until a final deal on a unity government is announced. |