No one could possibly trust the results of the last Afghan election. Nearly a third of the votes from the first round of voting were thrown out because of fraud. The incumbent Hamid Karzai nearly declared himself the victor anyway. And when his opponent dropped out before the second round of balloting, Mr Karzai waltzed into office with barely a nod to the principles he had trod underfoot.
Now it seems that the president is determined to shed even the flimsy mandate that his election provided him. Since the August ballot, Nato countries, whose troops are fighting and dying in Afghanistan, have pressured Mr Karzai to curb corruption and replace election officials. On Tuesday he finally acted - by giving himself complete control over the last independent watchdog overseeing voting, the Electoral Complaints Commission.
It isn't difficult to understand Mr Karzai's reasons for further brutalising the Afghan constitution. Referred to by his detractors as "the mayor of Kabul" because of his tenuous grip outside the capital, the president is trying to centralise as much power as he can before parliamentary elections in September. If he and his allies can repeat their last performance, Afghanistan will be a democracy only in name.
That would be a serious setback for the stability of the country, which desperately needs functioning institutions to channel conflict from the battlefield to the political arena. But democratisation and stronger institutions will do little to benefit Mr Karzai's inner circle. His power base is a coterie of allies of convenience tied to him by a corrupt system of patronage. Afghanistan has seen the rise and fall of this kind of leader before.
For all of the squeamishness about Mr Karzai's dodgy electioneering, his regime's corruption, it is still Nato and coalition forces that keep him in power. The alternative to Mr Karzai is a return to the Taliban. The US reinforcements and the beginning of a long campaign in Helmand province are ongoing despite, not because of, Mr Karzai's leadership. For the time being, he can still shelter under their umbrella. Eventually he will have to stand on his own.
Mr Karzai's long-term prospects have always depended on his ability and willingness to deliver good governance, which is now a distant hope at best. The struggle to define Afghanistan will continue, but this president's political machinations do little for his country. And should they continue, they will lead to his own undoing.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
Company%20Profile
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UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
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THE%20SPECS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Roll of honour: Who won what in 2018/19?
West Asia Premiership: Winners – Bahrain; Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership: Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Winners – Dubai Hurricanes; Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference: Winners – Dubai Tigers; Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
The%20Specs
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