President of Afghanistan

The president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was constitutionally the head of state and head of government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2004–2021) and Commander-in-Chief of the Afghan Armed Forces.

President of the Republic of Afghanistan
د افغانستان ولسمشر (Pashto)
رئیس جمهور افغانستان (Dari)
StatusOffice abolished
Member ofCabinet
ResidenceThe Arg
SeatKabul
AppointerDirect election
Term length5 years, renewable once
PrecursorKing of Afghanistan
Formation
  • 17 July 1973 (1973-07-17) (original)
  • 7 December 2004 (2004-12-07) (latest form)
First holderMohammed Daoud Khan
Final holderAshraf Ghani
Abolished15 August 2021 (2021-08-15)
Superseded bySupreme Leader
DeputyVice President
Salary؋960,000 monthly[1]
Websitepresident.gov.af (inactive)
(15 August 2021 archive)

On 15 August 2021, as the Taliban took over Kabul, President Ashraf Ghani took refuge in the United Arab Emirates.[2][3] After Ghani, the Taliban occupied the Arg presidential palace.[2]

Eligibility and selection process

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Article 62 of the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan stated that a candidate for the office of President had to:[4]

Powers

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The 2004 Constitution granted the president wide powers over military and legislative affairs, with a relatively weak national bicameral National Assembly, the House of the People (Wolesi Jirga) and the House of Elders (Meshrano Jirga). A president could only serve up to two five-year terms.

Hamid Karzai began his first five-year term in 2004.[5] After his second term ended in 2014, Ashraf Ghani was elected as the next Afghan president.[6]

Last election

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CandidatePartyVotes%
Ashraf GhaniIndependent923,59250.64
Abdullah AbdullahNational Coalition720,84139.52
Gulbuddin HekmatyarHezb-e Islami Gulbuddin70,2413.85
Rahmatullah NabilIndependent33,9191.86
Faramarz TamannaIndependent18,0630.99
Noorullah JaliliIndependent15,5190.85
Abdul Latif PedramNational Congress Party12,6080.69
Enayatullah HafizIndependent11,3750.62
Mohammad Hakim TorsanIndependent6,5000.36
Ahmad Wali MassoudIndependent3,9420.22
Mohammad Shahab HakimiIndependent3,3180.18
Ghulam Farooq NajrabiIndependent1,6080.09
Mohammad Hanif AtmarTruth and Justice1,5670.09
Noor Rahman LewalIndependent8550.05
Total1,823,948100.00
Registered voters/turnout9,665,74518.87
Source: IEC
 
The Arg (the presidential palace)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Afghanistan's lower house approves President Karzai's salary and expenses amount". Wadsam. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Mishal Husain, Paul Adams, Malik Mudassir, Ben Wright, Jon Sopel (15 August 2021). Taliban seize power in Afghanistan as President flees country (Television production). London: BBC News. Retrieved 15 August 2021 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ "President Ashraf Ghani leaves Afghanistan: Live". Al Jazeera. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  4. ^ "The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan". Government of Afghanistan. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  5. ^ Gall, Carlotta (4 November 2004). "Election of Karzai Is Declared Official". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Ashraf Ghani sworn in as new Afghan president". BBC News. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2021.