Afghan Presidential Elections 2014

[bryant.coleman]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26912153

Vote counting is well under way in Afghanistan after Saturday's landmark poll to elect a new president. More than seven million Afghans turned out to vote, defying Taliban militant threats to the poll. The election marks the country's first democratic transfer of power.

I hope Abdullah Abdullah wins, he is a really good politician.

[1714105065]

1714105065

[Elwar]

From the sound of things they will likely be holding a runoff election as there were around 8 candidates and the winner has to get over 50%.

[Sithara007]

From the sound of things they will likely be holding a runoff election as there were around 8 candidates and the winner has to get over 50%.

Partial results are out. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai leading with 58% vote. I doubt whether there will be a second round.

[bryant.coleman]

Partial results are out. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai leading with 58% vote. I doubt whether there will be a second round.

Seems like the people are voting according to the ethnic divisions. Not a good sign for an emerging democracy. All the three main groups (Tadzhiks, Pathans and Hazaras) are voting for men from their own ethnic division.

[havanabob]

Abdullah Abdullah... I'm sorry but this name is ridiculous. Imagine Obama Obama or Barack Barack or worse! Putin Putin!

I know it's serious thread but I couldn't resist

[Balthazar]

Well, it happens sometimes... When father didn't thought some time about the first name. 

[bryant.coleman]

Well, it happens sometimes... When father didn't thought some time about the first name. 

I think that most people in Afghanistan use only the first-name or the given name. But for official purposes, a surname might be required. So it is perfectly normal for a father named Abdullah, to give his son the same name.

[Balthazar]

- Abdullah! Where are you?
- Database error, ambigious reference

[Kiki112]

2/10 would vote only because of his name

[niothor]

Partial results are out. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai leading with 58% vote. I doubt whether there will be a second round.

Seems like the people are voting according to the ethnic divisions. Not a good sign for an emerging democracy. All the three main groups (Tadzhiks, Pathans and Hazaras) are voting for men from their own ethnic division.

It's normal. They don't trust people from other groups so the bigger group will win and will make all that is possible to harass and drive out the others , like in any "emerging democracy".

[bryant.coleman]

OK.... Actually it seems that Abdullah Abdullah is ahead.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27009936

With about 500,000 votes in 26 provinces counted, Dr Abdullah has 41.9% with Mr Ghani on 37.6%. Some seven million votes were cast in total across Afghanistan's 34 provinces in the 5 April poll. Full preliminary results are due by 24 April. A runoff will take place in May if no candidate gets a majority.

[niothor]

OK.... Actually it seems that Abdullah Abdullah is ahead.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27009936

With about 500,000 votes in 26 provinces counted, Dr Abdullah has 41.9% with Mr Ghani on 37.6%. Some seven million votes were cast in total across Afghanistan's 34 provinces in the 5 April poll. Full preliminary results are due by 24 April. A runoff will take place in May if no candidate gets a majority.

Which is those two is backed by the US? I have to get a voodoo doll for him

[bryant.coleman]

Which is those two is backed by the US? I have to get a voodoo doll for him

Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai is the one with the American backing. He has strong backing from Karzai as well. Abdullah Abdullah is considered to be slightly pro-Russian. Anyway, Pathans and Uzbeks are supporting Ahmadzai, while Abdullah has got the Tadzhiks and the Hazaras.

[niothor]

Which is those two is backed by the US? I have to get a voodoo doll for him

Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai is the one with the American backing. He has strong backing from Karzai as well. Abdullah Abdullah is considered to be slightly pro-Russian. Anyway, Pathans and Uzbeks are supporting Ahmadzai, while Abdullah has got the Tadzhiks and the Hazaras.

Nice , again having to chose between two puppets.

Afghanistan has a bright future

[sana8410]

I support abdullah . Abdullah Abdullah, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, leader of National Coalition of Afghanistan, presidential candidate in 2009.

[bryant.coleman]

Latest results:

1. Abdullah Abdullah   (National Coalition) - 1,535,212 (44.47%)
2. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai (Independent) - 1,145,400 (33.18%)
3. Zalmai Rassoul (Independent) - 354,921 (10.28%)

[bryant.coleman]

Abdullah-Ghani runoff expected in Afghan presidential election

http://rt.com/news/line/2014-04-24/#60048

The Afghanistan presidential election is poised to go to a runoff. The latest tally of votes released on Thursday showed neither former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah nor former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani secured an outright majority, Reuters said. Preliminary results based on nearly 82.6 percent of the vote from the 34 provinces showed Abdullah in the lead with 43.8 percent, followed by Ghani with 32.9 percent, according to the Independent Election Commission (IEC).

[ahmedjadoon]

Why they take so long to announce results... even unofficial one. We had very clear outcome which party was leading just after 3 hours the polling ended on the same day election was held!

[bryant.coleman]

Why they take so long to announce results... even unofficial one. We had very clear outcome which party was leading just after 3 hours the polling ended on the same day election was held!

Some of the polling stations are extremely remote, especially those in the Badakhstan and the Nuristan provinces. It takes days, if not weeks to transfer all the ballet boxes to the federal counting center. And add to this the already severe insurgency problem, which slowed down the ballot operations. So we can't actually blame them. 

[bryant.coleman]

Ashraf Ghani is leading the elections according to the preliminary results.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28199066

Ashraf Ghani - 56.44%
Abdullah Abdullah - 43.56%