Strengthening Electoral Integrity: Building Transparent and Independent Election Institutions in Afghanistan

Speech at the Swearing-In Ceremony of Afghanistan’s New Election Commission Members

Keypoints: 

• Electoral Integrity: Conduct transparent and fair elections.
• Independent Commissions: Keep election bodies free from interference.
• Inclusive Participation: Ensure all citizens can vote.
• Institutional Capacity: Strengthen election management systems.
• Transparency & Accountability: Track and report all election processes.
• Public Confidence: Build trust in electoral outcomes.
• Long-Term Planning: Prepare sustainable systems for future elections.
• National Unity: Represent all regions, ethnicities, and religions fairly.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Excellencies Dr. Abdullah, Mr. Danish, Mr. Muslimyar, the Honorable Chief Justice, the Attorney General, all esteemed members of the Cabinet, Mr. Sabawon, all elders, officials, the Chief of Staff, esteemed members of the National Assembly, and all dignitaries of the country: Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah!

Khosh Geliding! Shā rāghlāst! Welcome. Dear compatriots, ladies, and gentlemen!

At the outset, I offer prayers for the souls of those compatriots who drank the cup of martyrdom in yesterday’s terrorist incident. I pray to Almighty Allah to grant patience to their grieving families and a swift recovery to the wounded. Daesh and other bloodthirsty terrorist groups seek to damage the internal unity and cohesion of our society by targeting mosques and religious sites and through brutal attacks on innocents, hoping to sow the seeds of discord and division among our Muslim people. However, we say with certainty that the unity of our people is more steadfast than to fall prey to such sinister intentions and devilish conspiracies. We are confident that by the grace of God, and to the chagrin of the enemies of this nation, the unity among all religions and tribes of Afghanistan will remain lasting and firm.

The Philosophy of Elections and the Vicious Cycle of Power

Esteemed fellow citizens, following continuous efforts, we have succeeded in selecting the commissioners for the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) through a completely transparent process. Elections are not only a requirement of our Constitution but represent the soul and spirit of our democratic system. Without elections—and specifically fair elections—a democratic system cannot find consolidation, and we cannot achieve stability.

In the past, even within a single family, murders were committed and blood was shed during the transition of power. To exit this vicious cycle of violence and bloodshed during power transfers, the best mechanism is elections, so that the people choose their government through the power of their vote rather than the force of the sword or the gun. Since elections grant every citizen the right to participate without discrimination, they give everyone the feeling that the country is not the property of any specific group but is the shared home of all. When all people find the opportunity to decide on the fate of the society, decisions become better and carry more blessings.

Furthermore, because elections appoint officials for a limited time, the path to tyranny is blocked. Officials cannot forget that they will not hold power tomorrow and that escaping accountability is difficult. It is elections that transform the President and other elected officials from the masters of the people into their servants.

The Reform Process and Diagnostic Phase

During the past year, through the Electoral Reform Commission, we focused on the diagnosis of electoral ills. We exchanged views with civil society, the political class, and experts. Based on their constructive proposals, we took practical steps, including the amendment of the Election Law, which was eventually ratified through a legislative decree.

Following that, the Selection Committee was established. In more than a month of continuous work, this committee reviewed the applications of more than 700 people. By setting legal and professional criteria, they eventually chose 21 individuals for the Election Commission and 15 for the Complaints Commission. I must thank the Selection Committee for their sincere perseverance. Kormo wadan! 

Selection Criteria: A Mirror of the Nation To determine the candidates from the proposed list, although the legal authority is granted to the President, I preferred to share this responsibility with my colleagues—Dr. Abdullah, Mr. Danish, the Attorney General, and others—to collectively conduct the interviews.

While the list included many capable individuals, our criteria for choosing the final commissioners was that, in addition to merit, experience, and impartiality, geographical, ethnic, religious, and gender representation should be observed. We wanted all people of Afghanistan to see themselves reflected in the mirror of this commission. We also focused on a generational shift, ensuring that those in these positions can understand the needs of the youth and women, who constitute the majority of our voters.

The Mandate for Institution-Building

A major obligation that the government, the commissions, the political class, and the Ulama must pursue together is "Institution-Building." In the last fifteen years, nearly one billion dollars have been spent on elections, yet very little institutional work has been done to reduce costs or guarantee transparency. We still suffer from serious problems in this field.

We must make institution-building a primary goal so that these bodies remain unharmed by the coming and going of individuals, and the nation's wealth is not wasted. The new officials must organize internal affairs with a long-term vision, creating mechanisms for transparency and reform in provincial offices. They must maintain constant communication with both traditional institutions—scholars and elders—and modern civil society. Although this commission is independent, there will be national and international oversight over its work.

Government Support and Judicial Independence

The government considers it its duty to support the commission with all its might, ensuring security and respecting its independence. Just as our judicial institutions—the Supreme Court and the Attorney General’s Office—now operate with total independence, electoral institutions must be free from any interference from the government or other parties. Electoral crimes must be taken seriously by legal authorities, and violators must be prosecuted. The government is committed to providing the necessary funding so that a national investment is made for the institutionalization of the electoral process.

Charge to the New Commissioners

Today, as you have taken your oath, your heavy responsibility begins. Preparations for holding parliamentary and district council elections must be undertaken immediately and their calendar prepared. Simultaneously, a medium-term and long-term vision must be pursued so that our institutions meet international standards. We want our future elections to be held in the most transparent way possible to earn the complete trust of our people.

Honorable Commissioners! A very heavy burden rests upon your shoulders. You have a responsibility to perform your duties with complete independence and honesty. The expectation of the Afghan people is that you allow no one to interfere illegally. You come from different backgrounds and represent different provinces and languages; but as of today, that is over. Henceforth, you are only and only Muslims and Afghans. Your responsibility is toward the entire nation. Before God and before the great nation of Afghanistan, we believe that you have the ability to give the people the confidence that this process will be completed in a principled manner.

Yashasasin Afghanistan! Zenda bad Afghanistan! Tel de vi Afghanistan!