 Hamid Karzai greets journalists in Kabul, Afghanistan, on October 10. (Photo: AP Photo/Vorasit Satienlerk) |
Karzai, who has led the nation since American-led forces overthrew the brutal Taliban government in 2001, will serve a five-year term. He was chosen on more than 55 percent of all the ballots cast in the election.
The victory party is on hold until the election commission makes an official announcement. But the runner-up, Yunus Qanooni, has already said that Karzai is the winner. Qanooni received about 16 percent of the vote.
President Karzai
The election was a huge step for Afghanistan. For many young Afghans, their nation has always been at war. Now, for the first time, Afghans have an opportunity to help choose their own destiny.
Karzai, 46, has strong support throughout the world, especially in the United States. He has spent much of his presidency trying to raise money to rebuild Afghanistan and to calm local conflicts.
He has a long way to go. Even his supporters admit that outside Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, Karzai has little power. Much of Afghanistan is controlled by warlords loyal to their tribe, not the national government.
Overcoming Obstacles
Many observers feared that the election would hardly be democratic at all. Throughout the country, warlords urged or threatened Afghans to vote for their favorite candidate. But Karzai beat his rivals by a huge margin, and few doubt that he is the true winner of the election.
Still, an international panel will investigate the election to make sure that there was not widespread cheating.
"If the results of the investigation are independent and acceptable...we will accept the results," said Qanooni's spokesman.
Until the official word is in, Afghans will wait a few days more before they celebrate the results of an historic election.
