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Afghanistan remains without a fully functioning government after its Parliament rejected 17 of President Hamid Karzai’s 24 cabinet nominations.  The Parliamentary show of strength is a striking turn of events for a government more widely known for corruption and cronyism. 

We’re looking at perspectives from euronews, Times Online, Ebru News, CNN, and Al Jazeera English.

Afghan members of Parliament listed a variety of reasons for the rejections, saying some nominees were incompetent.  Others, they charge, were only appointed as political rewards for supporting Mr. Karzai in his controversial reelection last November.

Ebru News talks with a member of Parliament who explains.

“I think because, unfortunately, the criteria were either ethnic or money or bribery, or even language relationship, even sectarian relationship.”

Western nations who provide military and financial support continue to call for a “credible partner” in Afghanistan.

Al Jazeera English and euronews analyze Mr. Karzai’s options going forward.

(Al Jazeera English) “Things are back to square one. President Karzai will have to submit a new list of nominees to the Parliament, and make sure that a "yes" vote is within his reach because another rejection will further embarrass the president and create a deep political crisis here in Afghanistan.”

(euronews) “Karzai will be under pressure from his own allies. Either he has to name again ministers from the list that these guys provided to him a few months ago, or he has to take in or he has to probably also take in consideration the demands of the international community.”

In fact, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is holding a conference in London later this month to discuss foreign aid for Afghanistan.

If Karzai has to show up alone, the UK’s Times Online predicts he’ll have a hard time proving Afghanistan deserves international support.

“With 17 of the ministers missing, it is unlikely that [donors] will know whom they will be dealing with a few weeks after the summit, let alone six months down the line.”

Still, for many Western observers Parliament’s actions prove it can operate independently of the president.

Here’s CNN with that perspective.

“It's really democracy in action. Here you have the parliament who are turning down President Karzai's choices. We should mention two weeks earlier when I asked the president at a press conference why he didn't have more female choices, he had only had one in his list, he pretty much conceded that he knew the parliament would reject a lot of his choices.”

Mr. Karzai has asked Parliament to delay its winter recess until cabinet members are confirmed.

Does Parliament’s cabinet rejections represent a political blow to the president, or is it a sign of democracy at work?

Writer: Christina Hartman

Producer: Nathan Giannini