Pres. Hamid Karzai is almost sure of a victory in the Afghan elections after his opponent Abdullah Abdullah announced his withdrawal of candidacy for the election run-off.
Abdullah’s decision will leave Karzai as the only candidate. It will also lead Karzai to win by default in the second round of elections on 7 November.
Abdullah said that he would no longer be participating in the second round of elections, which follows the controversial 20 August elections. The teary-eyed doctor made his announcement in a huge tent filled with his supporters.
Abdullah also doubted the impartiality of the elections saying “it will not be free and fair.”
He added that the Independent Election Commission (IEC) is on Karzai’s side and the incumbent President is “misusing” the resources of the government.
Karzai led in the first round of elections in August. However, in October, millions of votes for him were disqualified by a United Nations-led supervisory body.
Despite having only one candidate, the IEC is still eyeing to conduct the second round of elections.
Abdullah may still win the run-off with the possible intervention of the international community.
Haroun Mir, director of the Afghan Center for Research and Policy Studies, based in Kabul, explained that Karzai’s legitimacy may be hurt if there would be a very low turnout.
The campaign team of Karzai said that the run-off would carry on in spite of the withdrawal of Abdullah.
