Today marks the launch of campaign for the fourth presidential election after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. Eighteen candidates are contesting the September 28 presidential vote. Election as a means of peaceful, democratic transition of power is the biggest achievement of Afghanistan over the last two decades since the modern Afghan history is marred by violence and bloodshed during power seizures. Election became the means and the basis for takeover of power following the ouster of the Taliban, thereby laying the groundwork for a key democratic value.
Over the last two decades, Afghans have taken part in three presidential elections, but the electoral code of conduct is unfortunately yet to be institutionalized. The supporters of electoral tickets focus more or even go to extremes on how to discredit rival candidates than win voter support for their favorite candidates by promoting the platforms of their candidates. The electoral teams use swear words or a language for each other that civilized people or those who believe in political struggle are not expected to resort to. Even such negative campaigning has started prior to the beginning of the official campaign period.
With the experience of democracy for two decades, the electoral teams should have now learned respect for values of political struggle. Political disagreement does not mean enmity. If members of the rival electoral tickets regard other as enemies, it blurs the distinction between political and armed groups. The leadership of electoral teams must strive to avert their political struggle from further dividing Afghan people and deepening the existing woes. Election should unite than split Afghan people.
The priority for the presidential contenders must be to let people know of their platforms not to disparage their rivals. Electioneering should provide people with an opportunity to identify and vote for candidates who realize their problems and have logical approaches and plans to address them. The presidential runners and their supporters must strictly eschew affront to each other and sowing seeds of disunity. Afghanistan is a shared home of all Afghans, and anyone can engage in political struggle to assume the leadership of the country through legitimate means.
Electioneering and ethics of political struggle
