National Assembly (Afghanistan)

National Assembly (Afghanistan) was the bicameral national legislature of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, established under the 2004 Constitution. It consisted of two chambers: the directly elected House of the People (Wolesi Jirga) and the appointed and indirectly elected House of Elders (Meshrano Jirga). The assembly operated from the Afghan Parliament Building in Kabul until the collapse of the republic in August 2021, serving as a central institution in the country's post-Bonn Agreement political order.

History

The concept of a national assembly in Afghanistan has historical roots in traditional consultative bodies like the Loya Jirga. A formal legislature was first established by King Mohammed Nadir Shah in 1931. Following periods of monarchy, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan saw a communist-led Revolutionary Council after the Saur Revolution. After the Soviet–Afghan War and subsequent civil conflicts, the 2001 Bonn Agreement following the United States invasion of Afghanistan paved the way for a new constitutional framework. The Constitution of Afghanistan ratified by a 2003 Loya Jirga re-established the National Assembly, with its first elections held in 2005. The assembly functioned through the war-torn presidencies of Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani, facing challenges from insurgency and political instability.

Structure and composition

The National Assembly was a bicameral legislature. The lower house, the House of the People or Wolesi Jirga, consisted of 250 members directly elected from Afghanistan's provinces through a single non-transferable vote system. The upper house, the House of Elders or Meshrano Jirga, had 102 members: one-third appointed by the President of Afghanistan, one-third elected by provincial councils, and one-third elected by district councils. Leadership included a Speaker for the Wolesi Jirga, such as Mir Rahman Rahmani, and a Speaker for the Meshrano Jirga, like Fazal Hadi Muslimyar. Committees were formed to oversee areas like internal security and international relations.

Powers and functions

The assembly held significant legislative and oversight authority under the Constitution of Afghanistan. The Wolesi Jirga had primary responsibility for approving, amending, or rejecting laws, including the national budget and treaties. It also confirmed key presidential appointments like Ministers of Defense and the Attorney General. The Meshrano Jirga could review and propose amendments to legislation passed by the lower house. Both chambers could summon ministers for questioning, and the Wolesi Jirga could pass a vote of no confidence. The assembly also had the power to ratify declarations of war and state of emergency.

Elections and membership

Elections for the Wolesi Jirga were intended to be held every five years, administered by the Independent Election Commission. Key polls included the 2005 election, the 2010 election, and the 2018 election, which were often marred by allegations of fraud, violence from the Taliban, and low turnout. Seats were allocated to provinces based on population, with reserved positions for Kuchi people and women. Membership in the Meshrano Jirga was partially determined by elections among members of provincial councils, with district council elections never fully implemented, leaving many seats vacant.

Dissolution and aftermath

The National Assembly was effectively dissolved on 15 August 2021 following the Fall of Kabul (2021) and the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan during the Taliban offensive. The last session was held in June 2021. Following their takeover, the Taliban did not reconvene the assembly, instead establishing an interim government led by the Leadership Council under Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada. Former parliamentarians, including speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani, fled the country. The Afghan Parliament Building has since been repurposed for Taliban gatherings and ceremonies, marking the end of the elected legislature as defined by the 2004 constitution.

Category:National legislatures Category:Government of Afghanistan Category:Defunct unicameral legislatures