KABUL - After the announcement of the Afghanistan Electoral Alliance (AEA) made headlines last week, a new high-profile political coalition vying for next spring's elections announced its formation on Tuesday.
The coalition, which has not officially named itself yet, is comprised of several prominent political figures that plan on nominating candidates for both the Presidential and Provincial elections on April 5. The coalition includes Dr. Zalmai Khalilzad, the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations; Ali Ahmad Jalali, former Afghan Interior Minister; Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, the head of the Security Transition Commission (STC); Muhammad Hanif Atmar, a member of the Right and Justice Party (RJP); and Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi, Minister of Commerce and Industries.
"Over the past one year, I have been engaged in talks with Dr. Khalilzad about forming a team, a team, which agrees on the candidacy of a single candidate for the elections and a candidate acceptable to all segments of the Afghan society," said Mr. Jalali while talking about the Presidential election.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zia Masoud, the leader of the National Front Party (NFP) and de facto spokesman of the AEA, announced that soon some new faces, including Mirwais Yasini, the First Deputy Speaker of the Lower House; Gul Agha Sherzoi, Governor of Nangarhar; and former MP Arif Noor Zai would join his coalition.
As the September 16 start date for registration of the electoral candidates draws near, the two major coalitions now on the scene can be expected to keep the announcements rolling.
Mr. Masoud said the AEA would be making a series of major announcements soon.
In an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, Mr. Masoud said, "Our brothers in the south and south-western areas of Kunar and Jalalabad will organize a grand meeting in which prominent political dignitaries will announce their unison with the Afghanistan Electoral Alliance. Later on, we will reach a consensus to nominate a single candidate for the elections."
Despite them promoting the formation of their own coalition, Mr Masoud said that the AEA was in ongoing negotiations with Mr. Khalilzad and Mr. Jalali as well as Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal, the leader of the Hezb-e-Islami (Islamic Party).
"Talks between Khalilzad and Abdurrashid Dostom are ongoing. Politicians are struggling to join hands with dignitaries from all ethnic groups, including Mr. Khalilzad and Mr. Jalali," explained Mr. Masoud. "We will try to get them to join the Afghanistan Electoral Alliance."
Mr. Jalali confirmed continued talks with the AEA, but stressed that they have not been able to come to agreement on numerous topics, including the issue of adopting a presidential or parliamentary political system for Afghanistan. For his part, Mr. Jalali was loud in clear in voicing his stance against a parliamentary system.
The formation of the two major coalitions seems to be setting the stage for a heated pre-election campaign season with marked differences from past elections. With the groups assembled as they are now, it is no doubt that the prominent figures will square off with a great deal of resources and support at their backs.
"This is the age of coalitions and alliances; one cannot achieve success in the election alone," Mr. Jalali said. His coalition is expected to officially announce its formation within a week. (Tolo News)