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:: Egypt’s 2010 Parliamentary Elections > Egypt’s 2010 Elections in the Western Media | |||||||||
![]() Carnegie Report tries to make sense of Egypt's electoral process
A new guide issued by The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace provides background and analysis to Egypt’s upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.
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Thursday, October 7,2010 07:32 | |||||||||
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A new guide issued by The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace provides background and analysis to Egypt’s upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. The guide profiles political personas from opposition movements exploring factors which influence Egypt’s electoral process. A detailed analysis is also included highlighting 10 years of Egypt’s politics including details of previous legislative elections. According to the report provided in both English and Arabic, the November 29 parliamentary elections may be just one more chapter in Egypt’s pitiful electoral process. “The ruling National Democratic Party will get at least two-thirds of the seats, assuring its control over any future amendments to the constitution” The report discusses the oppositions' status during the elections highlighting that “Opposition candidates are already facing more difficulties in campaigning than they did in 2005, Egyptian civil society monitors have every reason to fear that they will not receive full credentials and access to polls, and international observers are once again being rebuffed”. The report cites that Egypt is facing something more significant than the elections stating that its authorities are under external pressure to conform to demands for political reform. Authorities however argue that Egypt is undergoing reform stating that
“The system is being reformed, but at a pace that suits the conservative nature of Egypt and avoids instability”.
Although an electoral commission without doubt should be an improvement according to the report they are inadequate in number to supervise the more than 50,000 polling stations. Former experiences indicate that the electoral commission has made a dismal showing so far, allowing the widespread exclusion of opposition candidates during the June Shura elections failing to facilitate the work of civil society monitors
The report goes ahead to discuss the oppositions’ stance on the need
“Competing calls for either boycotting or participating in the elections clearly reveal the challenges and limited opportunities inherit in the model of constrained political reform that has governed Egyptian politics in recent years”.
Those participating justified their decision to participate on four grounds.
“Boycotting would exclude opposition parties and movements from the core of political life, namely electoral competition and parliamentary participation. Second, it would weaken the opposition’s popular presence and organizational capacity by depriving it of the opportunity for direct interaction with voters and rejuvenation of party cadres involved in electoral campaigns. Third, boycotting runs the risk of allowing the NDP full reign over the elections. And finally, by participating, the opposition can document electoral transgressions and demonstrate to the domestic and international audience the regime’s failure to ensure the transparency of the elections, thereby dispelling myths of democratic legitimacy.
“With the country anticipating a period of presidential succession, the parliamentary elections are worth following for yet another reason. At this crucial juncture, the elections offer a valuable opportunity to understand the regime’s preferences on striking a balance between stability and the urgent need for reform”. Carnegie Guide To Egypt's Elections Site |
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tags: Parliamentary Elections / Presidential Elections / Egyptian Opposition / Legislative Elections / NDP / Political Reform / Shura / NAC / Wafd Party / Elections in Egypt / Egyptian Elections / Carnegie Report / Electoral Process / Carnegie Endowment for International Peace / Opposition Movements / Egypt Politics / November Elections / Opposition Candidates / Opposition Groups / Ghad Party / National Democratic Front party / Moderate MB / Moderate Muslim Brotherhood / Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood / Boycott Elections / Democratic Legitimacy
Posted in Egypt’s 2010 Elections in the Western Media , Other Opinions |
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