“National Accord Government” Initiative; Comprehensive Solution to Current Political Crisis
Last year, the “National Consensus and Change” political movement, presented a plan under the name of “National Accord Government” to escape the political leadership crisis and the chronic warfare, in which, it included the overall and detailed aspects of the formation of an interim government.
Last year, the “National Consensus and Change” political movement, presented a plan under the name of “National Accord Government” to escape the political leadership crisis and the chronic warfare, in which, it included the overall and detailed aspects of the formation of an interim government.
As the whispers of the need for a temporary government have been posed, the “National Consensus and Change” movement publishes and suggests this initiative again.
The initiative has considered all aspects of the formation of an interim government and has offered a solution to get out of the current stalemate.
About the initiative:
The initiative of the National Accord Government
Kabul – 20/2/2018
Preface
National Consensus and Change is a political, social, and cultural process. This movement is working to overcome the current political crisis in the country as we have the elections ahead as well as transparency and protecting the people’s votes is our priorities in the current situation. Moreover, the National Consensus and Change in consultation with political elites, university professors, parties and the civil society institutions in Afghanistan suggests the initiative of “National Accord Government” in order to stop a devastating war and to establish a just, comprehensive and lasting peace as well as to institutionalise democracy.
National Consensus and Change believes the current political crisis is the result of an unhealthy management, monopolization, and centralization of the National Unity Government (NUG) which has put the country on the verge of collapse. National Consensus and Change aimed at getting the country out of the current crisis and consolidating the sovereignty of democracy, therefore, it is suggesting the initiative of National Accord Government to the people and the international community.
Chapter one: Pathology of the current status
1. Last presidential election lacked transparency and was full of organized fraud which it led the country, in terms of political system, on the brink of collapse; having the bitter past political experience, National Consensus and Change worries over the health of the elections ahead. Therefore, it is working to secure electoral health and transparency in the future political campaigns.
2. The political trust between the government and the people has collapsed, ethnic contradictions and gaps have intensified due to false and totalitarian policies of the government, and the monopoly of power escalated these dissatisfactions. Poverty, livelihood problems and employment crisis have been expanded. These factors have put the NUG with the crises of legitimacy, efficiency, and acceptance, which led it on the brink of collapse; the most important mechanism to overcome the crisis of political distrust, is to enhance transparency of the elections and to press the use of biometric system, the observation by the political parties, international community, and the international observatory agencies from the electoral process.
3. NUG’s failure in providing the security as well as talks with the armed oppositions has deteriorated the security status up to a point that it turned the “political situation” in the country into a “security situation”. National Consensus and Change believes that peace with the armed oppositions of the government and instability crisis will fail without the participation of political parties in the major national issues as well as the peace process.
4. The international community and international players, regardless of democratic principles, have ignored the role of political parties and civil societies in major national issues such as election, peace, and the country’s foreign policies; while the social bases of some political parties are greater than the failed NUG. political parties, in many cases, will act more successful than the government; Hence, the national consensus and change movement believes that the political system of the country will be legitimized with the participation of political parties and civil society, and political gaps will be managed at a lower cost.
Chapter two: Proposals to overcome existing political crises
The National Consensus and Change suggest the following in order to overwhelm current status, managing the crises, and preventing the collapse of political establishment:
1. Decentralization of power and administrative system
2. A transparent, free and fair election and utilizing the biometric system
3. IEC’s adherence to impartiality
4. Holding the parliamentary and district councils elections simultaneously
5. Political parties observation from the election process
6. International observatory agencies observing the election process in order to protect the people’s votes and ensuring the election transparency
Note: If the above would not be fulfilled, then the parliamentary, provincial and district councils, as well as the presidential elections, should be held simultaneously.
Chapter three: the formation process of “National Accord Government”
National Consensus and Change worries over electoral health, hence, it proposed the six-fold package of proposals; however, if the NUG does not act on the above suggestions and the possibility of organized fraud would not be eliminated, the National Consensus and Change will take the following series of measures until the formation of “National Accord Government”. National Accord Government will be established for two years and will provide the basis for a healthy, transparent, free and fair election. finally, it will hand over the political power to a legitimate, effective, and elected government.
First: grand national accord consensus
If the government, the IEC and the international community do not pay attention to the above suggestions, we will move towards a “National Accord Government”. First, a large consensus will be formed among representatives of political parties, civil society organizations, heads of anti-government armed groups, clerics, elites, independent figures, human rights activists, women’s rights activists, representatives of international peace organizations and international human rights institutions, representatives of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the representatives of the neighboring countries, the region and the five member states of the Security Council, then, the necessary grounds for the peaceful transfer of political power from the current illegal government to the “National Accord Government” will be provided.
After the grand national accord consensus, the current parliament, the Council of Ministers and the current cabinet will be dissolved, but other government agencies and all government officials will normally continue with their task. We urge from the United Nations and the international community to cooperate with the honorable nation of Afghanistan in this regard.
The tasks of the grand national accord consensus
1. Legitimizing the formation and establishment of National Accord Government for two years
2. Approving the duties of National Accord Government (internal and foreign policies)
3. Electing the head of National Accord Government
4. Electing three vice president for the head of National Accord Government
5. Electing the senior managers of the National Accord Government
6. Approving the authorities, responsibilities, and duties of the leaders and managers of the National Accord Government
The grand national accord consensus will legitimate the formation and establishment of the National Accord Government, its president, and VPs, as well as approving its internal and foreign policies; then, the political power will be peacefully transferred from the current leaders to the National Accord Government and the parliament, council of ministers and the cabinet will simultaneously be dissolved; But other government agencies and all government officials will normally continue their duties in accordance with the new state.
Second: formation of the National Accord Government and power transition
In the second step, the process of establishing the National Accord Government will begin for six months to two years, according to the plans and agreements reached by the Grand National Accord Consensus.
The features of the head and senior managers of the National Accord Government:
1. Be Afghan national
2. Having dignity and no corruption or crime record
3. Having high qualifications and political awareness
4. Enough experience and recognition from all ethnic groups in Afghanistan
The duty of national Accord Government
1. To respect for the foundations of the sacred Islam religion, the constitution and protecting the national interests
2. To hold transparent, fair and comprehensive elections of the presidency, parliament and district councils by an independent and impartial election commission
3. To maintain integrity among different ethnic groups in Afghanistan
4. To support the armed government forces
5. To defend the territorial integrity of the country
6. To support the achievements of the new political system
7. To pay attention to the rights of minorities
The most important task of the national accord government is the peaceful transfer of power through transparent, free, fair and inclusive elections.
Third: Transferring the power from the National Accord Government to the elected government
At the end of the presidential election, the president and VPs of the National Accord Government will peacefully hand over the power to the president and VPs of the elected government.
Fourth: Direct role of the International Community
In case the mentioned options would not be fulfilled, we will thoroughly support holding the grand international consensus (second Bonn conference) which will lead to the establishment and formation of the transitional process (the establishment and formation of National Accord Government) in our country.
Regard,
Leadership Council of National Consensus and Change
Kabul, Afghanistan – 20/2/2018
