Four months after the elections for the Wolesi Jirga, or lower house, which took place on 18th September 2010, President Karzai has sworn in a new Afghan Parliament. 249 members of the Wolesi Jirga were sworn in including 69 women.
World leaders congratulated Afghanistan on the achievement. A spokeman for the UN Sectretary General, Ban Ki Moon, said:
“The inauguration marks the end of the electoral process and the beginning of a period in which Afghan governing institutions must work together to solve the pressing problems that the country faces, putting aside the differences as any robust and vibrant democracy demands.”
From the White House, the National Security Council spokesman, Mike Hammer said:
“The United States welcomes the inauguration today of the Afghan Parliament in Kabul. The seating of parliament is a significant milestone in the progression of Afghanistan’s democracy and an extremely important moment for Afghans who bravely cast their votes last September.”
Afghanistan has previously been ruled by Jirga councils, which were originally appointed by the king following independence from Britain in 1919. The jirga system was reintroduced in 2001.
