KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – Amid relief that a dangerous rift in the country’s troubled democracy has been averted, Afghan officials praised a deal between presidential contenders brokered by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and said Sunday they hope to finish a full ballot audit within weeks.
Kerry unveiled the breakthrough deal Saturday night, with both hopefuls promising to abide by the results of the audit, followed by plans for the winner to form a government of national unity with participation of the losing side. The agreement followed a marathon series of shuttle meetings between the two candidates who took part in the June 14 runoff – former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah and former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.
The two stood by Kerry’s side when the bargain was revealed on national television and then spoke endorsing the agreement.
With many Afghans saying the deal exceeded their expectations from Kerry’s two-day mediation, the chairman of the country’s Independent Election Commission told reporters at a news conference that the commission is ready to start auditing all 8 million votes cast from 23,000 polling station within a few days and hopes to complete the process in three weeks.
Money dealers said that the value of the Afghan currency improved after the deal, and ordinary Afghan citizens in the capital and political leaders were univocal in their praise – although some cautioned that it must still be implemented and that the way ahead is still difficult.