Afghanistan to Hold Delayed Parliamentary Vote in October
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Afghanistan will hold postponed parliamentary elections in October, the top election official said on Monday, after last June's deadline to choose a new assembly was missed because of political squabbling.
Parliament's five-year term expired last June, but elections were postponed because of security fears and disagreements on how to ensure a fair vote after a bitterly disputed presidential election in 2014.
President Ashraf Ghani issued a decree last year extending parliament's mandate until a vote could be held, a decision criticized by Afghans, who questioned whether the extension was legal.
If the elections go ahead as planned, they are likely to be held against a backdrop of sharply worsening security, with the Taliban trying to build on their campaign last year that included the brief capture of the northern city of Kunduz.
The elections will be held on Oct. 15, Ahmad Yousuf Nuristani, the head of the election commission, told a press conference in Kabul, Reuters reported.
Nuristani said the elections would only be held on time if the government provided the necessary budget and security for candidates, election personnel and ballot boxes.
