{"id":1994,"date":"2016-11-19T08:33:16","date_gmt":"2016-11-19T08:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/csrskabul.com\/en\/?p=1994"},"modified":"2016-11-20T08:35:08","modified_gmt":"2016-11-20T08:35:08","slug":"confrontation-of-wolesi-jirga-with-the-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/csrsaf.org\/en\/?p=1994","title":{"rendered":"Confrontation of Wolesi Jirga with the government"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wolesi Jirga (the Lower House of the Afghan Parliament) summoned 16 ministers last week, 7 of whom were dismissed while 9 others received vote of confidence.<\/span><\/p>\n

The process of impeachment of these ministers was not only reflected in domestic and international media, but also sparked the harsh response of the National Unity Government (NUG). These ministers are being impeached and dismissed at a time when, besides the fight with the Taliban, the Afghan government confronts many challenges in areas of economy, politics and public confidence.<\/span><\/p>\n

The stages of the NUG-Parliament mistrust and confrontations in the past two years, the process of impeachment, and the probable future situation are analyzed here.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Confrontations of executive and legislative branches<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Since ever the beginning, there were disagreements between the NUG and the Afghan Parliament and tensions between them passed through the following stages:<\/span><\/p>\n

First, Wolesi Jirga highly criticized NUG\u2019s foreign policy, particularly in the first six months of the NUG, Kabul\u2019s rapprochement policy towards Pakistan, giving privileges to Pakistan and the NUG\u2019s peace policy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, Wolesi Jirga approved 8 out of 18 ministers that the government had nominated and the remaining 16 ministers received vote of confidence from the Parliament after three months.<\/span><\/p>\n

Third, some Parliament Members accused the NUG of supporting ISIS.<\/span><\/p>\n

Forth, tensions raised between Wolesi Jirga and the NUG over the Parliamentary and district councils elections. Announcing the schedule of elections and extending Parliament\u2019s term, the Afghan government, to some extents, put an end to these tensions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fifth, Wolesi Jirga consecutively rejected the Afghan President\u2019s decrees on electoral reforms and finally the President sent the issue to the Supreme Court.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, once again, Wolesi Jirga dismissed 7 ministers. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The process of impeachment<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

From 12 to 18 November 2016, Wolesi Jirga impeached 17 ministers of the Afghan cabinet, who had spent only less than 70% of their respective ministries\u2019 development budget. The Afghan Minister of Information and Culture resigned before the process of impeachment; therefore, the Parliament only summoned and impeached 16 ministers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although, previously the Afghan President had said that he will dismiss those ministers who were unable to spend their development budgets properly; but in the first day of impeachment, dismissal of three ministers provoked Ghani and he said that the reasons for summoning ministers were \u201cunjustified\u201d [1]<\/a>. The Afghan President asked the Afghan Parliament to postpone the hearing process and demanded from ministers not to participate in hearings; but contrary to President\u2019s demands, the process of impeachment was completed last week and 7 ministers, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, were sacked.<\/span><\/p>\n

As in the case of rejection of decrees on electoral reforms, the Afghan government has sent ministers\u2019 impeachment case to the Supreme Court and has demanded from this court to decide in this regard, in the light of the \u201cAfghan constitution, the country\u2019s current situation and particularly taking in consideration the 1394 financial problems and the suspended and revoked promises of the international community\u201d. [2]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dual approach of Wolesi Jirga<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the first impeachment session of Wolesi Jirga, three ministers were dismissed; but in other sessions, the summoned ministers did not attend the session and impeachment was held in their absence. Four of the absent ministers were dismissed while the others received vote of confidence. Therefore, on the one hand, Wolesi Jirga was accused of dual approach[3]<\/a>, and on the other hand, some believes that \u201cimpeachment in the absence of ministers is not in accordance to the provisions of the constitution\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a meeting with Parliament members and in the extraordinary meeting of the cabinet[4]<\/a>, the Afghan government stressed on the followings as the reasons behind the failure of ministries to spend their national development budget:<\/span><\/p>\n