KABUL (SW): The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) on Tuesday welcomed the Wolesi Jirga (Lower house)’s move to discard the Presidential Decree on electoral reforms.
Speaking at a press conference here, Nadir Mohsini, spokesperson for the IECC said that brining any changes in the electoral bodies is violation of the Constitution and the executives has no legal right to do so for six years once the structure of the electoral bodies is formed.
Mohsini stated that the IECC is thankful to the Wolesi Jirga for their decision and it asks the Masharano Jirga (upper house) to take a similar decision based on the national interests.
The spokesperson for the IECC added that any amendments brought to electoral system should first be approved by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the parliament. He further stated that the Presidential Decree in this regard violates the Constitution since it was sent to the house 45 days after the time it was approved by President.
Nadir Mohsini asked the Afghan government not to delay the parliamentary and district council elections. He urged the government to hold the elections on time.
On the other hand, a statement released by the Presidential Palace noted that the President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani views the rejection of the decree by the Wolesi Jirga as step backwards. The statement promised that the government would do its best to hold parliamentary and district council elections.
ENDS
