Critical situation prompt governments to work harder than in normal circumstances in order to salvage their countries from descending into crises. But unfortunately, the trend is otherwise in Afghanistan. While the political and security situation in the country is unprecedentedly turbulent, the government has become indifferent more than ever, and ignored the top priorities. The government in general and the new parliament in particular has completely failed to handle its affairs. Wolesi Jirga or the lower house of parliament has not been able to undertake its normal affairs approximately three months after the final parliamentary election results were announced. In the first two months, members of the house wrangled over the election of the speaker, and then it took Wolesi Jirga several weeks to complete its administrative board. Now, the formation of special committees has become challenging. All lawmakers are trying to become members of committees in which there are more opportunities of financial perks.
The lower house has fulfilled none of its main duties in the first quarter of the first year of its legislative term. Neither have laws been passed nor has confidence vote been held for nominees of some ministries, and government performance overseen. Currently, at least over ten ministers and Supreme Court judges are caretakers who should win the confidence vote of the lawmakers. Moreover, there are so many bills pending Wolesi Jirga’s approval, yet an overwhelming majority of lawmakers are busy protecting their personal interests. Their behavior demonstrates that their main goal to be in the parliament is to serve their own interests rather than perform their legislative duties.
Such attitude is of serious concern, especially at a time when the legitimate term of the government has also already expired. On the one hand, the government’s focus is all on election campaigning instead of governance, and on the other hand, all members of Wolesi Jirga are making every effort to get membership of commissions where their interests can better be protected. Another problem is that the summer recess of the parliament is coming up. If the lawmakers do not succeed in overcoming their differences, they will have nothing to offer to the nation as achievement in the first quarter of the first year before their summer recess, except the privileges they will secure for themselves. The lawmakers do not have to forget that people have elected them to represent them not to focus all their efforts on safeguarding their personal interests in the parliament.
