#Afghanistan - Ghani Tops Preliminary Election Results: IEC

The Independent Election Commission said Ghani earned 50.64% and Abdullah 39.52%.

President Ashraf Ghani earned 923,868 votes and 50.64% , to lead the preliminary results of the 2019 presidential election, according to the Independent Election Commission’s announcement on Sunday morning.

Abdullah Abdullah followed with 720,990 votes and 39.52%, the IEC announced.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) welcomes the announcement of the preliminary results for Afghanistan’s presidential election and commended the “Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) – for their work leading up to the announcement.”

Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, stated: “Now, all Afghan authorities and actors must demonstrate their commitment to safeguard and complete the election, and to protect the integrity of the final stage of the process.”

Yamamoto said: “Any decisions taken by the electoral management bodies in the final stage of the process must have clear legal and technical justifications and should be explained to the people of Afghanistan in clear terms.”

The United Nations called for “particular care and sensitivity, leading up to the announcement of the final results,” said Yamamoto, adding:

“All candidates have the chance to raise any concerns they may have through the appropriate mechanism and within the prescribed time, in accordance with the relevant legal frameworks, regulations and procedures,” said Yamamoto. “At the same time, the ECC has an obligation to adjudicate any complaints it receives transparently and thoroughly so the election process may conclude in a credible manner.”

French Embassy in Kabul said: “The electoral process must now be completed. The Afghan people deserve a legitimate, credible and undisputed process until the end.” Also: ”The electoral law must be … completely enforced.”

“The electoral process is not, and never has been, incompatible with peace negotiations, on the contrary. A democratically elected president with a clear mandate from the people will have the necessary legitimacy … (for) intra-Afghan negotiations,” the French Embassy said.