The Afghan Economy after the Election

Abstract

Afghanistan’s nation rebuilding and reconstruction process has come a long way to the historic direct presidential election this month. An interim administration was installed following the Bonn Agreement in December 2001. The first recurrent (ordinary) budget was announced together with the National Development Framework in April 2002. The Emergency Loya Jirga was held in June 2002 followed by the installation of the transitional government led by President Karzai. The new constitution characterized by Islam as the national religion, a centralized power at the presidency, and gender equality in principle, was approved by the “constitutional Loya Jirga” and signed into law in January 2004. The first population census was carried out successfully under difficult political and security circumstances and paved the ground for voter registration toward the presidential election that took place on 9 October 2004.