Drawing the curtains on a drawn-out and dramatic election season, today the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan named Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai as the winner and the next president of Afghanistan. Meanwhile, an American-brokered power-sharing agreement signed by the two leading candidates dictates that runner-up Abdullah Abdullah will serve as his chief executive officer. Together they will share control over who leads key institutions such as the Afghan army and other executive decisions.

Afghanistan's election drama got worse this week when the preliminary results of last month's presidential runoff were released to show contender Abdullah Abdullah losing by a wide margin. His camp responded by calling the election a "coup" against the people's votes.