With its first parliamentary elections on 18 September 2005 based on the new Constitution, Afghanistan faces another decisive step in its political development. The high number of almost 6,000 candidates, of which some 10% are women, proves once more the population's great interest in the success of the democratization and reconstruction process.
Just like for the presidential election in October last year, the German Government will lend its support to these elections with a package of measures:
The Federal Foreign Office has made US$ 3.24 million available to the United Nations who is responsible for the organization of the election to help with financing for which estimates total US$ 148 million.
Furthermore, the Federal Foreign Office is financing projects organized by several non-governmental organizations in the sphere of political education. For example, the Free and Fair Elections Association, an Afghan umbrella organization focusing on the training and the work of national election observers, is receiving EUR 250,000 from the Federal Foreign Office budget. The Independent Parliamentary Association of Afghan Women, which supports female candidates for parliamentary seats, has been allocated EUR 59,800.
Germany is also this year involved in the international election observation mission in Afghanistan, both in terms of personnel and finance. The core team and long-term observers of the EU election observation mission led by the former EU Commissioner Emma Bonino (Italy) are in Afghanistan already. Six of the 60 long-term observers are Germans, there is also a German member of the team of 20 EU short-term observers who are due to travel to Afghanistan in early September. EU parliamentarians and representatives of the Embassies in Kabul will be involved in the mission as guests.
Germany has offered seven election observers to the OSCE Election Support Team headed by the Canadian Craig Jenness. The mission is receiving support to the tune of EUR 25,000 from the Federal Foreign Office budget. It will be made up of a core team of 14 plus 36 short-term observers and is due to travel to Afghanistan in early September.
Furthermore, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) under NATO leadership is also performing essential stabilization tasks in Afghanistan and will also play a key role in securing the parliamentary elections. To this end, ISAF will receive a temporary boost of some 2,000 soldiers. Germany, which is the largest provider of troops with some 2,200 soldiers, is supporting election security as part of the current Bundestag mandate, particularly through its Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Kunduz and Feyzabad.