Oral Answers to Questions

Susan Elan Jones Excerpts

Tuesday 17th April 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Iain McKenzie (Inverclyde) (Lab)]

2. What reports he has received on the capacity of the authorities in Afghanistan to preside over free and fair presidential elections in 2014.

[Susan Elan Jones (Clwyd South) (Lab)]

6. What reports he has received on the capacity of the authorities in Afghanistan to preside over free and fair presidential elections in 2014.

[Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) (Lab)]

10. What reports he has received on the capacity of the authorities in Afghanistan to preside over free and fair presidential elections in 2014.

--- Later in debate ---

[Susan Elan Jones]

The Minister will know that there are concerns about the capacity of the Afghan authorities to hold presidential elections in 2014. In the light of that, what is the Government’s assessment of recent media reports that Hamid Karzai is considering stepping down a year early, thereby triggering an election before the withdrawal of international forces?

[Alistair Burt]

Of course the date of presidential elections that might be triggered by a resignation must be a matter for the Afghanistan Government and the President. That he has made clear his intention to stand down is important in the context of accepting Afghanistan’s own constitution, which limits him to two terms. If an election were to come up immediately, the Independent Election Commission has said it would be difficult, but I think the sense is that the timing is likely to be co-ordinated with the Afghan Administration’s ability to hold such an election. It is a matter for them, but too soon an election might be very difficult, although the Independent Election Commission is working hard at improving its capacity to hold an election at the allotted time.