Afghan leader Hamid Karzai, he will be relinquishing power but not influence, as he seeks an active public role in his “retirement” years.
Karzai is due to step down in the coming weeks after Saturday´s run-off election, paving the way for Afghanistan´s first democratic transfer of power. The elections are meant to signal a fresh start for Afghanistan after the 13-year rule of the Karzai presidency.
But any prediction that the new president can turn the page decisively looks misplaced.
“The truth is that President Karzai built up such a vast patronage network that he has to stay influential to keep his people happy,” said Bette Dam, a Dutch author who interviewed Karzai extensively for her forthcoming book on the president.
“He is looking for ways to continue (wielding) influence, and help his network of people to hold power. Many governors and government officials are in contact with him about how to achieve this.”
Karzai, then aged only 44, became a global star when he was selected to lead Afghanistan after the ousting of the repressive 1996-2001 Taliban regime.
Charismatic, fluent in English, and dressed in a colourful cape and lambskin hat, Karzai wowed world leaders and convinced the United States that he was the perfect partner to tackle Islamist militancy after the 9/11 attacks. However relations with the US led NATO force have gone into a tailspin and his regime stands accused of massive corruption even as teh taliban insurgency has becomming increasingly stronger.
