The role of parliament in democratic societies is crucial because it both oversees the performance of the executive power and makes laws, which creates a legal framework for the entire administration to operate in. A lack of a strong legislature creates a room for the executive power to betray promises and misuse national resources. Unfortunately, Afghanistan has been unable over the last two decades to have an effective, successful parliament in addition to the major problems and challenges faced by the executive pillar. The performance of the current and previous terms of the National Assembly, especially Wolesi Jirga or the lower house of parliament, has not appropriately contributed to strengthening the regime and ensuring transparency in governance. Worse than that, many of the sitting and former members of Wolesi Jirga are themselves accused of corruption and misuse of public resources. This undesirable culture has allowed some individuals to run for parliament who do not meet any of the requirements of a lawmaker. Their sole objective is to get financial benefits and contracts.
Although it was expected that good and qualified people would gradually occupy parliamentary seats, the first few days of the work of the current Wolesi Jirga showed it will be more controversial and troublesome than the previous one. It has not been able to elect speaker a month after it was inaugurated. Members of Wolesi Jirga could not bridge their differences over the election of the speaker in their Saturday session so that they could return to their primary functions.
Afghanistan’s lower house, which began its work a year after voter registration for the parliamentary election, effectively remains locked in deadlock. The lawmakers have not been able to settle an issue set out in Wolesi Jirga’s Internal Rules of Procedure based on mutual understanding. A specific, power-thirsty circle has taken the house of people hostage by not allowing other lawmakers to start their work, while the country’s current critical conditions direly require the house to become functional. The lawmakers need not to disrespect the will of their constituents, and resolve the dispute over the election of the speaker in the light of their Internal Rules of Procedure, thereby returning to their primary tasks: legislation, oversight of government activities, and addressing the problems of their constituents.
