KABUL -- The upper house of the Afghan parliament has discussed the possibility of delaying April's presidential election because of extreme winter weather in parts of the country.
Yousof Nooristani, the chairman of the Afghan Independent Election Commission, told lawmakers on December 1 that even President Hamid Karzai has suggested changing the election date.
Nooristani, however, said that the election commission could not legally change the voting day "based on the constitution and electoral law."
The idea of delaying the vote would likely upset the United States as well as Karzai's rivals, because he could be seen as trying to drag out his second and final term.
The Afghan constitution bars him from running for a third term.
He has so far refrained from backing any of the candidates.
Yousof Nooristani, the chairman of the Afghan Independent Election Commission, told lawmakers on December 1 that even President Hamid Karzai has suggested changing the election date.
Nooristani, however, said that the election commission could not legally change the voting day "based on the constitution and electoral law."
The idea of delaying the vote would likely upset the United States as well as Karzai's rivals, because he could be seen as trying to drag out his second and final term.
The Afghan constitution bars him from running for a third term.
He has so far refrained from backing any of the candidates.
