Afghan government chief executive Abdullah Abdullah has sharply criticized President Ashraf Ghani in an apparent eruption of tensions within the country’s fragile unity government.
Abdullah said late on August 11 that Ghani did not deserve to govern as he had failed to work collaboratively or to enact electoral reforms.
"The government is paralyzed and ministers do not have the chance to speak," Abdullah said in televised remarks. "[Ghani] provides a one-hour lecture but he should listen to the ministers for 15 minutes. If someone does not have tolerance, they do not deserve the presidency."
In a statement, Ghani's office said Abdullah's speech was "not in accordance with the principle and spirit of governance," but there would be a "serious and effective" discussion of his concerns.
Abdullah's televised comments raise fresh questions about the stability of the coalition formed in 2014 after both Ghani and Abdullah claimed victory in a presidential election.
The post of chief executive was created for former foreign minister Abdullah as part of a U.S.-brokered deal to end a deadlock over the election.
But Abdullah has complained he has been left out of key decisions amid a deteriorating situation in the country.