KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani officially introduced the National Unity Government’s cabinet members to the Wolesi Jirga (WJ) or Lower House of Parliament for a confidence vote on Tuesday.

While speaking at Parliament, Ghani said that he did his best to elect a cabinet worthy of the MPs acceptance, but stressed that they “have the right to accept or reject any or all of the nominees,” adding that the cabinet is accountable to the people and the Wolesi Jirga. The list of nominees presented by the president and chief executive has seen a few changes since the initial announcement exactly 105 days after the formation of the National Unity Government (NUG).

Just hours before the introduction of the cabinet, nominee for the Ministry of Water and Energy Mahmoud Saikal withdrew his nomination after expressing his conclusion with Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. Saikal has been replaced by Abdul Rahman Salahi, an ally of former Minister of Water and Energy and former Jihadist leader Ismail Khan.

On Monday former Gen. Director of the Independent Directorate for Local Governance (IDLG) Jilani Popal, withdrew his nomination as Minister of Finance to keep his dual citizenship, according to officials.

Another cabinet nominee Mohammad Yaqoob Haidari, who was nominated for the Ministry of Agriculture, has been on Interpol’s most wanted since 2003 and asks the government for the suspension of his nomination until the allegations have cleared.

The nominees will present their platforms to the Wolesi Jirga starting Wednesday and the next two days. The MPs will make their final decision sometime next week on the cabinet. (Tolonews)