President of Afghanistan explained

Post:	President
Body:	the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Native Name:	د افغانستان ولسمشر (Pashto) رئیس جمهور افغانستان (Dari)
Insignia:	Emblem of Afghanistan (2013–2021).svg
Insigniasize:	125px
Insigniacaption:	Emblem of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Flag:	Standard of the President of Afghanistan.svg
Flagborder:	yes
Flagcaption:	Presidential standard
Status:	Office abolished
Residence:	The Arg
Seat:	Kabul
Appointer:	Direct election
Member Of:	Cabinet
Termlength:	5 years, renewable once
First:	Mohammed Daoud Khan
Last:	Ashraf Ghani
Precursor:	King of Afghanistan
Superseded By:	Supreme Leader
Deputy:	Vice President
Salary:	monthly^[1]
Website:	president.gov.af (inactive) (15 August 2021 archive)

The president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was constitutionally the head of state and head of government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2004–2021) and Commander-in-Chief of the Afghan Armed Forces.

On 15 August 2021, as the Taliban took over Kabul, President Ashraf Ghani took refuge in the United Arab Emirates.^{[2] [3]} After Ghani, the Taliban occupied the Arg presidential palace.^[2]

Eligibility and selection process

Article 62 of the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan stated that a candidate for the office of President had to:^[4]

• be a citizen of Afghanistan, Muslim, born of Afghan parents;
• not be a citizen of another country;
• be at least forty years old when declaring candidacy;
• not have been convicted of crimes against humanity, a criminal act or deprived of civil rights by a court;
• not have previously served more than two terms as president.

Powers

The 2004 Constitution granted the president wide powers over military and legislative affairs, with a relatively weak national bicameral National Assembly, the House of the People (Wolesi Jirga) and the House of Elders (Meshrano Jirga). A president could only serve up to two five-year terms.

Hamid Karzai began his first five-year term in 2004.^[5] After his second term ended in 2014, Ashraf Ghani was elected as the next Afghan president.^[6]

Last election

See main article: 2019 Afghan presidential election.

See also

• Prime Minister of Afghanistan
• Chief Executive (Afghanistan)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Afghanistan's lower house approves President Karzai's salary and expenses amount. Wadsam. 1 June 2013. 15 August 2021.
2. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Mishal Husain, Paul Adams, Malik Mudassir, Ben Wright, Jon Sopel . 15 August 2021 . Taliban seize power in Afghanistan as President flees country . Television production . en . . . . 15 August 2021.
3. Web site: President Ashraf Ghani leaves Afghanistan: Live. Al Jazeera. August 15, 2021. August 15, 2021.
4. Web site: The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan . . 5 February 2013.
5. News: Election of Karzai Is Declared Official. The New York Times. November 4, 2004. Carlotta. Gall . August 15, 2021.
6. News: Ashraf Ghani sworn in as new Afghan president . BBC News . 29 September 2014 . July 25, 2021.