Egyptian elections flawed, but no turning back

Charlene Gubash Producer

CAIRO — For the first time since independence, Egyptians were able to vote for more than one candidate in a national election this week.

And despite the fact that President Hosni Mubarak won a fifth six-year term with 80 percent of the vote amid allegations of election irregularities, many consider the process itself an irreversible step forward.

“Many Egyptians see it in a positive way, the impact of the overall process had been the politicization of Egyptian society, which had been depoliticized for decades,” explained Dr. Gamal Abdel Gawad, senior political analyst at the Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo.

“Now there is a kind of vibrant political debate and activism. There is a wider political space,”  Gawad SAID.

No turning back
The weeks and months prior to the election witnessed unprecedented criticism of President Mubarak, his son, his policies and government in the media and the street.

“The campaign has brought politics back to the people, and brought the president down to human size,” Gawad said.

He contends that political opposition groups must value and take advantage of the changes that have taken place. 

“The president is now criticized openly in the media, and holds an office others can aspire to and contest him for. The campaign gave the opposition parties a chance to reach the people, spread their word and improve their organization,” Gawad said.

“The government no longer has a monopoly on reaching people. No government, no matter how bad or dictatorial can switch back again.”

Rise of new parties
Political parties, personalities and organizations have risen up to challenge the ruling regime plan and are using the election as a springboard to expand their hard won political space. 

“It is a process, that doesn’t end with the elections,” said Hisham Kassem, the vice president of the opposition “Al Ghad,” or “Tomorrow” party. The party’s president, Ayman Nour, was the strongest candidate running against Mubarak.

The party will now focus on expanding its representation in parliament in the November elections. Although Nour has demanded a re-vote — citing widespread abuse reported by poll monitors on election day —  Kassem contends that that the Al Ghad party has truly done something for the country. 

“We have initiated the democratic process. Change will be brought about by the new generation. We have shown that we are a bigger force than the Muslim Brotherhood,” said Kassem. Nour plans to run for president again in 2011.

People have had ‘Enough!’
Egypt’s first popular movement for change saw the election as a chance to expand its base.  The “Kefaya” or “Enough!” movement was the first group to defy emergency law by boldly protesting against Mubarak in the street. 

The group’s leader, Abdel Halim Qandil, called the elections “legally and politically false” and contends Mubarak has used the election to expand his power and to help ensure that his son, Gamal, will succeed him. Qandil’s answer: to bring more people to the street.

“We will have a big demonstration in a few months with 100,000 Egyptians to see that measures will be enough to end Mubarak’s era,” Qandil said.  He said that the Kefaya movement, now in its second year, will try to establish the right to demonstrate for all political powers.

Kefaya has already opened the door for other groups, such as the banned Muslim Brotherhood, to demonstrate openly. He believes many more people will be inclined to join Kefaya and protest because they think the election results were “forged.” 

Qandil also plans to work within the system by calling for opposition candidates to unite against the ruling party in the upcoming parliamentary elections. 

MORE FROM MIDEAST & N. AFRICA

Mideast & N. Africa Section Front

NBC: U.S. fired on al-Qaida targets in Yemen Iraqi official: Iranians seize oil well Mom of US hiker in Iran asks for 3 to be freed Newsweek: Is Iran playing games with jailed hikers? Pentagon: Insurgents intercepted spy videos Mideast & N. Africa Section Front   Add Mideast & N. Africa headlines to your news reader: