Abdullah Abdullah

By James Bays in Asia on November 18th, 2009
Photo by AFP
When the second round of Afghanistan’s controversial presidential election was called off and Hamid Karzai, the incumbent, was declared the winner, he promised “an inclusive government.”
 
But it seems that none of his main electoral opponents want to be included.
 
Ramazan Basherdost, an independent member of parliament, told me that the US ambassador has been trying to persuade him to join the Karzai camp.
 
But said he would not do so, because Karzai was not “a legitimate president, but a King, who has been appointed".
 
Dr Abdullah Abdullah, who was Karzai's rival in the runoff election before he pulled out, has also ruled out any involvement.
 
Here is a full transcript of my interview with Abdullah: 
 
By James Bays in Asia on November 3rd, 2009
Photo by Reuters

Hamid Karzai, the incumbent president, was declared the winner of the Afghan elections by default. He's now vowed to form an "inclusive" government, saying it will represent all his countrymen.

Here’s my take on what’s next on Afghanistan's political horizon:

1. Formation of new government and cabinet

Karzai is being urged by the international community to come up with an “inclusive” government, possibly with some of Dr Abdullah’s supporters in key cabinet posts. Karzai will face other pressures too.

By James Bays in Asia on November 2nd, 2009
Photo by AFP

Under the Afghan constitution and electoral law, the responsibility for organisation of elections is given to the Independent Election Commission (IEC).

The IEC's chairman - a post that is appointed by the country's president - Professor Azizullah Ludin has been repeatedly criticised by Dr Abdullah, who has claimed he is not a neutral figure.

Now Abdullah has pulled out of the second round. I sat down with Professor Ludin and asked him what happens next.

This is a transcript of part of our interview:

JB: Are we still going to have an election on November 7th?

By Jonah Hull in Asia on November 1st, 2009
Photo by AFP

Presidential challenger Dr Abdullah Abdullah's decision to withdraw from Saturday's planned run-off against Hamid Karzai had been widely anticipated after key conditions he set for a free and fair election were not met.

But it leaves the process in a state of deep confusion.

Will there in fact now be an "election" on Saturday, even though only one candidate remains?

The Karzai camp, along with the main Afghan election body, the Independent Election Commission, say yes. The main thrust of their position is that the constitutional process that requires a second round must be followed to its conclusion.

But these are in fact uncharted constitutional waters. There is no provision in either the electoral law or the constitution itself that provides guidance where one candidate pulls out of a two horse race.

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