Representatives of the Loya Jirga, or Grand Assembly, of Afghanistan have officially accepted the new constitution, thereby ending weeks of heated debate and discussion among the leaders of the country's strongest political and ethnic factions. The 502-member body approved the historic new draft on Sunday, just one day after the country's leaders warned that the assembly was at risk of descending into violence and conflict without achieving a constitutional framework. The constitution, established after the Taliban regime, provides a strong presidential system under Hamid Karzai, the interim president of Afghanistan, who is supported by the United States, stating that it is necessary for the unity of the country and for keeping the political and ethnic factions together. The constitution does not specify conditions for the position of prime minister. Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN special representative, praised the achievement of such an agreement, considering it a significant success for the people of Afghanistan.
Loya Jirga Representatives Approve New Constitution of Afghanistan - 2004-01-04
The Loya Jirga in Afghanistan has approved a new constitution, concluding intense debates among political factions. This constitution establishes a strong presidential system under interim President Hamid Karzai, supported by the U.S. Its approval is seen as a critical step towards national unity.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Loya Jirga has approved a new constitution for Afghanistan after extensive debates, establishing a strong presidential system under Hamid Karzai. This approval is seen as a pivotal step towards achieving national unity.
- The constitution was approved by a 502-member assembly.
- The approval came after warnings of potential violence if no agreement was reached.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
After the Taliban's fall in 2001, Afghanistan faced the challenge of rebuilding its political system, which included addressing deep ethnic and political divisions.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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