Karzai has been under intense international pressure to cleanse his government of corruption and mismanagement. But he also needs to mollify domestic political allies, including warlords, who have kept him in power. – File photo
KABUL: The names of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's nominees for cabinet posts were formally presented to the parliament for approval on Saturday.
The list keeps US favorites in several posts critical to the war and reconstruction and also jettisons the heads of two ministries embroiled in corruption probes.
The list was read to parliament by the minister of parliamentary affairs, Anwar Khan Jigdalik, after a stormy session during which lawmakers debated the legality of the process.
Karzai's choices are seen as the first test of his stated commitment to build a clean and accountable government, and to eradicate the corruption that infests every level of life in Afghanistan.
The president was sworn into power for a second five-year term a month ago following a controversial election steeped in fraud, mostly in his favour.
Karzai appears to have tried to please both his backers in the international community and those who helped get him re-elected in the August 20 election.
He has chosen to leave well-regarded ministers in their posts -- a nod to Britain, the United States and NATO countries that have demanded anti-corruption action in return for continuing to prop up his government.
Vice President Mohammad Qasim Fahim told MPs that the 23 nominees were being presented to parliament for ‘votes of confidence’.
Holdovers from the current Cabinet include the defense, interior and finance ministers. ‘The nominees include some former ministers who have shown excellence in their positions in their past term in office,’ Fahim said.
Karzai's cabinet hopefuls include warlords Ismail Khan as energy minister, a powerful post that is likely to be regarded as a reward for delivering a substantial block of ethnic votes to him in the August ballot. –Agencies
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