Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KABUL1119
2009-05-03 12:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT, 4/25-4/30: ELECTORAL LAW
how-toVZCZCXRO5030 PP RUEHDBU RUEHPW DE RUEHBUL #1119 1231251 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 031251Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8714 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS KABUL 001119
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM AF
SUBJECT: THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT, 4/25-4/30: ELECTORAL LAW
UP NEXT?
REF: KABUL 25
UNCLAS KABUL 001119
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM AF
SUBJECT: THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT, 4/25-4/30: ELECTORAL LAW
UP NEXT?
REF: KABUL 25
1. Lower House Speaker Yunus Qanooni has urged MPs working on
the Electoral Law to resolve ongoing disputes and bring the
legislation to the house floor for a final vote (reftel).
Because the Constitution prohibits Parliament from changing
electoral law in the final year of its five-year term, MPs
are pushing to pass the bill before the June recess so the
new law can apply to next year's parliamentary and district
council elections. The international community has asked MPs
to insert a provision clarifying that any law passed this
session will not apply to the August 20 presidential and
provincial council elections. Deputy Speaker Mirwais Yaseni
predicted the Legislation Committee would need to introduce
the bill to the plenary session this week if MPs hope to pass
it and send it to President Karzai before Parliament goes
into recess in four weeks.
2. Other Parliamentary Business:
- The Lower House passed the Chamber of Commerce Law, but set
aside work on a law regulating private security companies
until the Internal Security Committee could review comments
from the Ministry of Interior.
- Lower House MPs from Samangan, Ghazni, and Daikundi
complained about the performance of their provincial
governors during free discussion periods. Samangan MPs have
threatened to boycott Lower House sessions if the government
does not replace their governor.
- The Lower House approved a number of conventions and
diplomatic agreements, including the International Conference
on Labor Standards, the Convention on Eliminating Child
Labor, the Agreement on the Vocational Rehabilitation of
Disabled People, and a mutual cooperation agreement with
Kazakhstan.
- The Upper House only met once because of the Victory Day
holiday this week. MPs could not reach a quorum, so action
on the Extradition Law and other business was postponed until
next week.
RICCIARDONE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM AF
SUBJECT: THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT, 4/25-4/30: ELECTORAL LAW
UP NEXT?
REF: KABUL 25
1. Lower House Speaker Yunus Qanooni has urged MPs working on
the Electoral Law to resolve ongoing disputes and bring the
legislation to the house floor for a final vote (reftel).
Because the Constitution prohibits Parliament from changing
electoral law in the final year of its five-year term, MPs
are pushing to pass the bill before the June recess so the
new law can apply to next year's parliamentary and district
council elections. The international community has asked MPs
to insert a provision clarifying that any law passed this
session will not apply to the August 20 presidential and
provincial council elections. Deputy Speaker Mirwais Yaseni
predicted the Legislation Committee would need to introduce
the bill to the plenary session this week if MPs hope to pass
it and send it to President Karzai before Parliament goes
into recess in four weeks.
2. Other Parliamentary Business:
- The Lower House passed the Chamber of Commerce Law, but set
aside work on a law regulating private security companies
until the Internal Security Committee could review comments
from the Ministry of Interior.
- Lower House MPs from Samangan, Ghazni, and Daikundi
complained about the performance of their provincial
governors during free discussion periods. Samangan MPs have
threatened to boycott Lower House sessions if the government
does not replace their governor.
- The Lower House approved a number of conventions and
diplomatic agreements, including the International Conference
on Labor Standards, the Convention on Eliminating Child
Labor, the Agreement on the Vocational Rehabilitation of
Disabled People, and a mutual cooperation agreement with
Kazakhstan.
- The Upper House only met once because of the Victory Day
holiday this week. MPs could not reach a quorum, so action
on the Extradition Law and other business was postponed until
next week.
RICCIARDONE