Parliament of Afghanistan

Parliament of Afghanistan. The Parliament of Afghanistan, officially known as the National Assembly, served as the bicameral legislative body of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Established under the Constitution of Afghanistan ratified in 2004, 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). Its primary functions included lawmaking, approving budgets, and ratifying treaties, operating from the purpose-built Afghan Parliament Building in the capital, Kabul.

History

The modern parliamentary tradition in Afghanistan traces its origins to reforms by King Amanullah Khan in the 1920s, culminating in the establishment of a formal National Assembly in 1931. This body, however, was largely symbolic under the Barakzai dynasty and subsequent regimes like the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Following the United States invasion of Afghanistan and the Bonn Agreement, a new constitutional framework was crafted. The Constitutional Loya Jirga of 2003-2004, chaired by Sibghatullah Mojaddedi, drafted and ratified the constitution that formally created the bicameral parliament, which first convened after the 2005 Afghan parliamentary election.

Structure and composition

The Parliament was a bicameral institution. The lower house, the Wolesi Jirga or House of the People, consisted of 250 members directly elected through a single non-transferable vote system from provinces apportioned by population. The upper house, the Meshrano Jirga or House of Elders, had 102 members: one-third appointed by the President of Afghanistan, one-third elected by provincial councils, and one-third elected by district councils. Key leadership positions included the Speaker of the House of the People and the Speaker of the House of Elders. The institution was supported by the ISAF and donor nations like the United States and the European Union.

Powers and functions

Constitutionally, the Parliament held significant legislative authority, including the power to approve, amend, or reject laws proposed by the Cabinet of Afghanistan. The Wolesi Jirga had exclusive power to approve the national budget and cabinet appointments, while both chambers ratified international treaties and declarations of war. It could also issue votes of no confidence against ministers. Its work often involved contentious debates on issues ranging from the U.S. bilateral security agreement to women's rights in Afghanistan, frequently leading to political stalemates with the executive branch under presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani.

Elections and membership

Elections for the Wolesi Jirga were governed by the Independent Election Commission, though they were frequently marred by allegations of fraud, violence, and low turnout. Notable elections include the 2005 election, the 2010 election, and the long-delayed 2018 election. The Single Non-Transferable Vote system aimed to represent diverse ethnic groups including Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks. Membership included prominent figures such as Fawzia Koofi, Abdul Rasul Sayyaf, and Shukria Barakzai. The Meshrano Jirga included representatives from provincial and district councils, as well as presidential appointees, often including mujahideen commanders and technocrats.

Recent history and dissolution

The Parliament's final years were defined by political crisis, including disputes over election results, extended delays in convening, and the Afghan Peace Process. Following the U.S.-Taliban deal signed in Doha, the legislature's role diminished. The collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in August 2021, precipitated by the 2021 Taliban offensive and the Fall of Kabul, led to the de facto dissolution of the Parliament. The Taliban established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, replacing the republican system. The last acting speakers were Mir Rahman Rahmani and Fazal Hadi Muslimyar, with many members fleeing into exile or going into hiding. The future of a representative legislative body under Taliban rule remains uncertain. Category:National legislatures Category:Politics of Afghanistan Category:Defunct unicameral legislatures