KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — There’s some grumbling, but Afghanistan generally seems to be accepting the new presidential power sharing deal with a shrug and without mass street demonstrations or celebrations.
The agreement yesterday between the two candidates in the final runoff was followed by official action from Afghanistan’s election commission. The commission named Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai as the next president and noted that his one-time rival, Abdullah Abdullah, will fill the newly created position of chief executive, a post akin to prime minister.
The commission pointedly did not release final vote totals amid concerns that doing so could inflame tensions. Afghan journalists reacted angrily to that.
The United States applauded the deal, which was spearheaded by Secretary of State John Kerry.
One Afghan businessman commented that authorities have their work cut out for them to get people to ever vote again.
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