Democracy? No, Afghans say, after vote count ends

[unhappycamper]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/democracy-no-afghans-say-after-vote-count-ends



FILE - In this Monday, Sept. 8, 2014 file photo, Afghan presidential candidate and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah speaks during a news conference in Kabul, Afghanistan. The ballot counting in Afghanistan’s five-month--long presidential election is finished, but as negotiations continue over the country’s future political power structure, many here are asking: Does my vote even count? The two men now jockeying for presidential powers in secretive negotiations are Abdullah and former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.

Democracy? No, Afghans say, after vote count ends
By JASON STRAZIUSO
— Sep. 15, 2014 12:10 PM EDT

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The ballot counting in Afghanistan's five-month-long presidential election is finished, but as negotiations continue over the country's future political power structure, many here are asking: Does my vote count?

On Monday, the country's Electoral Complaints Commission began ruling on grievances from the candidates following word a day earlier that the election committee had finished reviewing all ballots cast in the second round. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the step, and said that the Afghan people's wish to achieve "a peaceful, democratic leadership transition must be respected."

After a presidential election that has taken nearly half a year, capped by delays over fraud investigations and behind-the-scenes power sharing talks aimed at averting political acrimony that could descend into violence, many here don't like the feel of democracy.

"Where is the democracy? There's no democracy. We are disappointed by this process. I can tell you one thing, I'm not going to vote in parliamentary elections next year," said Mohammed Nadir, a 44-year-old shopkeeper.