http://www.bamdad.af/ en Copyright 2013 news Bamdad News - Afghanistan http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2308 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2308#When:04:45:23Z Thu, 16 May 2013 04:45:23 +0000 Election, By Asar Hakimi
The Cooperation Council of Political Parties and Coalitions of Afghanistan (CCPPCA) believes that free and fair elections are impossible if we do not have a totally impartial election commission. The Council asserts that the Independent Election Commission’s (IEC) chairperson and commissioners must be appointed based on the IEC’s Structure, Duties and Responsibilities Law. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2260 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2260#When:04:06:23Z Sun, 07 Apr 2013 04:06:23 +0000 Weekly Dialogue, Interview by Hamidullah Habibi
Zaiulhaq Amarkhil, Chief Electoral Officer at Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission (IEC) Secretariat, says that insecurity is the biggest challenge facing the 2014 presidential and provincial council elections. According to Amarkhil, IEC is making every effort to hold the upcoming election in accordance with the election timeline. In an interview with Bamdad, he asserted that the IEC, without the support of other government organizations, will not be able to conduct transparent elections. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2211 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2211#When:13:14:27Z Sat, 23 Mar 2013 13:14:27 +0000 Election, By Asar Hakimi
The Coordination Council of Political Parties and Coalitions of Afghanistan (CCPPCA) is concerned about the transparency of Afghanistan’s upcoming presidential elections scheduled for April 2014.  ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2135 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2135#When:03:10:43Z Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:10:43 +0000 Weekly Dialogue, Interviewer: Jamal Temori
Asadullah Saadati, a member of the Afghan National Assembly (NA), believes that the Single Non Transferable Voting (SNTV) system, which is currently in use in Afghanistan, results in a “horrible” waste of votes. In an interview with www.bamdad.af, he asserts the SNTV system does not create balance and it has already been eliminated in most countries of the world. Saadati suggests that SNTV should be replaced with a mixed-member electoral system. He says that in current-day Afghanistan, the mixed-member electoral system will be more useful than any other system. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2045 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/2045#When:08:50:37Z Mon, 17 Dec 2012 08:50:37 +0000 Weekly Dialogue, Interview by Asar Hakimi
In an interview with Bamdad, Ahmad Behzad, National Assembly representative from Herat asserts that the lack of a “comprehensive platform or agenda” is the foremost challenge facing the lower house. He believes “the nonpartisan structure” of the National Assembly has stymied the development of political platforms and a long-term strategy among lawmakers, and instead only ineffective, short-term agendas are introduced. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1915 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1915#When:08:12:22Z Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:12:22 +0000 Election, By: Asar Hakimi
Afghanistan’s National Assembly (NA) – the country’s legislative body – recently established a room for journalists called the media-pool, where NA plenary sessions will be recorded using NA cameras and the footage will be passed along to journalists. As a result, journalists only receive pictures and broadcasts of NA activity taken through the Information and Technology Department (ITD).  They cannot record Assembly activity on their own.  ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1842 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1842#When:11:45:26Z Sat, 30 Jun 2012 11:45:26 +0000 Election, By Asar Hakimi
Afghanistan’s National Assembly and a civil society organization, the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) authorizing FEFA to monitor and report publicly on the legislature’s performance and achievements. According to FEFA, the MoU’s main goal is to inform people on what their elected representatives are doing. Also, the MoU will enhance cooperation between the legislature and civil society, and gain people’s trust on legislative activities. In short, it aims to ensure good governance. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1766 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1766#When:05:12:56Z Wed, 16 May 2012 05:12:56 +0000 Election, By Asar Hakimi
Mass media outlets have grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade in Afghanistan and more and more Afghans are quickly gaining access to popular social media, namely via Facebook and Twitter. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1644 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1644#When:05:12:50Z Mon, 05 Mar 2012 05:12:50 +0000 Election, By Qayoom Suroush
Afghan Finance Minister Mohammad Omar Zakhelwal presented the 1391 [March 2012 – January 2013] fiscal year annual budget for approval to the Afghan Parliament on Saturday, February 25, 2012. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1636 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1636#When:07:07:53Z Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:07:53 +0000 Election, By Zahir Eztarabi
In the wake of last year’s electoral crisis and controversy over the establishment of a Special Court to adjudicate election related complaints, the Afghan Parliament was divided into two groups: The Coalition for the Support of the Rule of Law (CSRL) and the Reformists. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1628 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1628#When:05:18:50Z Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:18:50 +0000 Election, By Hamidullah Habibi
With the parliament again in session, lawmakers are enthusiastic to carry out their main duties during the upcoming year. But many analysts believe that the Wolesi Jirga remains weakened and politically marred from internal disputes which characterized its first legislative year. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1618 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1618#When:05:03:54Z Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:03:54 +0000 Election, By Qayoom Suroush
The Afghan Parliament began its second legislative year on Saturday, January 12. According to Article 107 of the Afghan Constitution, the legislature has two working rounds and two seasonal recesses. Each working round lasts four and half months and each recess lasts one and half months. Usually the winter recess begins in early December and ends in mid January. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1573 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1573#When:04:26:21Z Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:26:21 +0000 Election, By Zahir Eztarabi
Winter recess provides an opportunity for Afghan parliamentarians to go to the provinces and meet with their constituents. But many citizens see recess as a relaxing time for the MPs.  The lawmakers reject such allegations claiming that they visit their constituents during seasonal recesses to listen to their problems and seek solutions. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1515 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1515#When:09:36:30Z Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:36:30 +0000 Election, By Zahir Eztarabi
A group of Afghan officials travels to South Africa to study that country’s electoral system – and bring home some ideas. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1482 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1482#When:05:13:52Z Sun, 16 Oct 2011 05:13:52 +0000 Election, By Hamidullah Habibi
Over the past year a series of clashes over the 2010 Parliamentary elections has paralyzed the legislature and brought the executive, judiciary and legislative branches into prolonged conflict. The following is a series of interviews in which www.bamdad.af asks ordinary Afghan citizens about their own views and attitudes towards the current political conflict. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1478 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1478#When:07:16:17Z Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:16:17 +0000 Election, By Qayoom Suroush
Semin Barakzai, whose election to Parliament from Herat was voided by the Independent Election Commission in August, has been on a hunger strike since October 2. She has appealed for a review of her case, and has said she will neither eat nor drink until the government reacts. At this point, Barakzai is in critical condition, and the long-standing conflict between the legislature and the executive looks set to deepen further. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1456 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1456#When:09:22:46Z Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:22:46 +0000 Election, By Asar Hakimi
September 18 marked one year exactly since the fraud-stained 2010 Parliamentary elections. In that year, the legislature and the executive branches have been locked in a constant struggle that has prevented Parliament from undertaking any responsible work. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1445 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1445#When:07:21:02Z Tue, 27 Sep 2011 07:21:02 +0000 Election, By Qayoom Suroush
Just a few days before the Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced its final decision to remove and replace nine MPs, a new parliamentary group, the “Reformists,” emerged in the Lower House of Parliament. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1426 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1426#When:04:10:30Z Sun, 18 Sep 2011 04:10:30 +0000 Election, By Asar Hakimi
Exactly a year after elections, the Parliament is still paralyzed by disagreements over the results. The halls of Parliament are all but empty these days. There is no quorum, so no decisions are possible. One year after the troubled 2010 elections, Afghanistan still has no functioning legislature. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1395 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1395#When:06:25:00Z Wed, 24 Aug 2011 06:25:00 +0000 Election, By: Asar Hakimi
IEC’s latest decision is supposed to put an end to a long-simmering political crisis in Afghanistan that has pitted the legislature against the executive branch, and effectively paralyzed the Parliament for the past eight months. But many observers feel that this latest decision will merely launch a new round of infighting and recrimination. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1385 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1385#When:07:50:34Z Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:50:34 +0000 Election, By Asar Hakimi
Many hope that a new decree by President Hamid Karzai could signal a compromise to end the long-simmering dispute between the legislature and the executive over the results of last September’s Parliamentary elections. But others are equally convinced that the lack of a clear legal ruling will just add to the conflict. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1361 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1361#When:04:29:33Z Sun, 07 Aug 2011 04:29:33 +0000 Election, By Qayoom Suroush
The legislature, still locked in conflict with the executive branch, is having little success in exercising its constitutional right to monitor the actions of the central government. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1330 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1330#When:05:15:04Z Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:15:04 +0000 Election, By Qayoom Suroush
The ongoing struggle between the legislative and executive branches of government is likely to be extended this summer over the issue of the Loya Jirga, or Grand Assembly. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1324 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1324#When:07:18:42Z Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:18:42 +0000 Election, By Qayoom Suroush
In the wake of a controversial decision by the Special Court for the adjudication of electoral fraud, Afghanistan’s Lower House has put aside its differences to force the executive branch to conform to the nation’s Constitution. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1318 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1318#When:04:40:26Z Sat, 16 Jul 2011 04:40:26 +0000 Election, By Qayoom Suroush
Following the Special Court’s announcement on June 23 to invalidate the election of one-quarter of all MPs for fraud, Parliament discusses impeachment of the president and trials for Supreme Court justices. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1308 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1308#When:10:29:07Z Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:29:07 +0000 Election, By Qayoom Suroush
Parliament reacted harshly to a decision by the Special Court that would exclude close to one quarter of MPs for fraud in last September’s elections. The Speaker of the Lower House, Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, termed the ruling a “tragedy,” while MPs called on Parliament to unite against the Court’s decision. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1283 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1283#When:11:07:58Z Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:07:58 +0000 Election, By Qayoom Suroush
Abstract: Both analysts and MPs believe that Parliament was paralyzed in the first session of its work though it was a tough session for parliamentarian. For almost one month, they were not able to elect its Speaker. Then there was the special court which was a common agenda of every session. Approving the budget, trying to summon the Antony General and the Kabul Bank crisis were the other issued discussed in the parliament during this session. Below, we have looked closer over the first session of Parliament and what it did during six months. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1275 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1275#When:04:17:30Z Sat, 25 Jun 2011 04:17:30 +0000 Election, By Qayoom Suroush
MPs are having little success in trying to persuade, coax, or force the executive branch to comply with the law. Instead, they say, the government seems intent on imposing its will on the legislature. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1271 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1271#When:06:58:19Z Wed, 22 Jun 2011 06:58:19 +0000 Election, By Asar Hakimi
The legislature has delayed their holiday until the tensions over the Cabinet and the Special Court are resolved. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1253 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1253#When:08:43:49Z Wed, 08 Jun 2011 08:43:49 +0000 Election, By Wahab Sediqi
Seven out of the 25 ministers in the government have never been confirmed by the Parliament, resulting in continuing tension between the legislature and the executive. ]]>