Afghanistan’s Democracy in Action: Courage, Participation, and Legacy

Address on the Conclusion of the 2018 Wolesi Jirga Election Voting Process

Keypoints: 

• Martyrs: Honoring those who gave their lives for freedom and democracy.
• Citizen Courage: Voting despite threats, showing unity and resolve.
• Democracy: Elections reflect the people’s will, rejecting violence.
• Women’s Participation: Historic involvement as voters and candidates.
• Candidates’ Contribution: Participation strengthens democracy, win or lose.
• Security: Forces ensured safe and stable elections.
• Future Elections: Confidence in broad participation in presidential vote.
• Patriotic Legacy: Democracy rooted in Afghanistan’s century-long struggle.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

At the outset, from the period of registration to the voting process of this national endeavor which concluded today, I pray for the pure souls of all our martyrs. They are the martyrs of democracy. In exchange for their blood, they have left the lamp of democracy burning bright for future generations; their memory will be eternal, and future generations will take pride in them.

To the great nation of Afghanistan: I thank you all!

Through the exercise of your vote, you showed the world that you do not want violence. You proved your will for democracy. You proved to the Taliban that no one can restrain these people through force. You were faced with clear and explicit threats from the Taliban, yet with all your might, you manifested your will and did not surrender to force. Now, if the Taliban possess the moral courage, let them come and demonstrate their strength among the people.

I say to the Taliban: Come and show whether your method and path hold popularity among the nation, or the path of democracy. The field is yours!

Afghans showed their enemies that not only do they refuse to surrender to threats and warnings, but they also possess the strength and will to break the enemy's threats. Afghans showed the world that they accept only democracy in their country. Democracy was not given to them as a gift. One hundred years ago, the leader who won Afghanistan's independence, Ghazi Amanullah Khan, began democracy from this very desk, and a system based on the people’s will was his great ambition; thus, I say that democracy has deep roots among our people.

I thank you for responding to my call and for your extensive participation in the elections despite all threats. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The participation of women in these elections—both as candidates and as voters—is a historic victory for Afghan democracy. I thank these women and their families. This work marks the beginning of the presence of a new generation in the field of Afghan democracy.

Your participation yesterday and today also proved that, with the help of Almighty Allah, your participation in the Presidential elections will also be extensive, so that you may have a legitimate and authoritative leader for the future.

Honorable candidates, I sincerely thank you for mobilizing and moving the people through your participation in this legitimate and healthy competition. You proved that you have deep roots among the people. Thanks to you, a great momentum and movement has emerged among the masses. From among the 2,500 candidates for the Wolesi Jirga, only 250 will enter the House. Here, we have no winners or losers. All of you are winners of the process of democracy and people-centered rule. For the candidates who do not enter the Wolesi Jirga, the arms of the government are open to you so that we may collectively bring this ship of democracy to the shore.

Finally, I thank the security and defense forces of the country, including the institutions and departments of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, who cooperated with the Independent Election Commission in this national process.

To this end, yesterday I met closely with the security and defense forces involved in leading the security of the election process to express my appreciation for their efforts.

Security incidents during the election days were significantly fewer than during the two rounds of the 2014 Presidential elections. This was all due to the efforts of the country’s security and defense forces, to whom we are all indebted.

Toward enduring democracy in the country.