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Roundup: Afghan gov't expresses dismay over parliament failure to approve more minister-designates

Xinhua, January 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

The office of the Chief Executive of the Afghanistan national unity government has expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of Wolesi Jirga or Lower House of parliament to approve all the major part of the cabinet nominees on Wednesday. "We are not satisfied with the decision of Wolesi Jirga, but we respect it because it is the decision of Wolesi Jirga," local media quoted Mujib Rahman Rahimi, spokesman for the office of Chief Executive, as saying Friday. "It was better if the Wolesi Jirga voted for approval of more minister-nominees," Rahimi said.

In Wednesday's voting, the lawmakers endorsed eight minister- designates besides Nabil as the chief of National Directorate for Security (NDS) or the country's national intelligence agency and rejected nine others.

During the voting, Noor-ul-Haq Ulumi was confirmed to lead the ministry of interior affairs, Eklil Hakimi as minister of finance while Salauddin Rabbani was endorsed as the minister of foreign affairs.

However, the minister-designate for defense, General Shir Mohammad Karimi, was rejected by the lawmakers leaving the defense ministry to be run by acting minister for at least two more months when the parliament winter recess is over.

Meantime, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani praised the Lower House for giving the vote of confidence to eight ministers and said the remaining nominee-ministers for remaining ministries would be introduced soon.

On Jan. 20, President Ghani presented 25 minister candidates and one nominee each for the National Directorate for Security ( NDS) and the Da Afghanistan Bank, the country's central bank, to the lower house of the parliament for approval.

As the parliament will adjourn for the winter recess on Jan. 29, the president would introduce the remaining 17 minister-designates and governor for the central bank within the next 45 days when the recess ends.

Both Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, the two challengers in Afghan presidential elections last year, had formed a government of national unity under a deal struck with mediation of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Under the agreement, out of 25 ministers, 13 belong to President Ghani's team and 12 to chief executive Abdullah.

Meanwhile, political observers have expressed concerns over delay in cabinet formation. "Lack of cabinet, a complete and operational cabinet would negatively affect our economy,"economist and businessman Azarakhsh Hafizi said in talks with local media on Friday. "Lack of defense minister would undermine the war on terror," political analyst Jawed Kohistani said. Endi