President of Afghanistan


The president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is the head of state and head of government of Afghanistan. The incumbent office holder is Ashraf Ghani.
Before the office of the president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was created in 2004, Afghanistan has been an Islamic republic between 1973 and 1992 and from 2001 onward. Before 1973, it was a monarchy. Between 1992 and 2001, during the civil war, the country was recognized as the Islamic State of Afghanistan, and later the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Eligibility and selection process

Article 62 of the Constitution of Afghanistan of 2004 states that a candidate for the office of President:
The Constitution of Afghanistan grants the president wide powers over military and legislative affairs, with a relatively small national bicameral national assembly, the Wolesi Jirga and Meshrano Jirga. A president can only serve up to two five-year terms. Hamid Karzai started his first five-year term in 2004. After his second term ended in 2014, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai was elected as the next president.

Latest election