====================================================================== Rule #1: YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. ======================================================================
Egyptians shake off apathy in referendum vote By Heba Saleh in Cairo Financial Times March 19 2011 Egyptians, savouring their first taste of a free vote, queued patiently for hours to cast their ballots on Saturday as long lines formed in front of polling stations for the country’s referendum. In the upscale Cairo area of Zamalek, where it took three and a half hours of waiting to reach the ballot box, most of those present were voting for the first time ever. There was so much excitement, some had their picture taken as they stuffed their folded ballots into the box. In the run-up to the referendum on controversial amendments to the constitution, billed as the first step towards democracy, it proved difficult to find eligible Egyptians who did not plan to vote. “I will say No to the amendments because we need to complete the revolution,” said Mostapha Talaat, a businessman waiting to vote in Zamalek. “It doesn’t matter how long I will stand in line. We have to build on good foundations. If we don’t we could go back 30 years [to dictatorship].” For decades Egyptians had shunned elections dismissing them as exercises in futility aimed only at sugar-coating dictatorship. But five weeks after the popular uprising which toppled the regime of Hosni Mubarak, Egyptians now believe they have finally been empowered to shape their future. In a dramatic transformation, a people long described as having surrendered to political apathy are showing enormous enthusiasm for politics as a tool for change. Doaa Farouk, a veterinary researcher, said she would vote Yes because it would bring stability to Egypt after the turmoil of the revolution. “At least we now have freedom,” she said. “I will say Yes, because this is a positive step and we want the country to calm down.” Forty million people are eligible to vote and the expectation is that turnout will be high – a first for Egypt. During Mr Mubarak’s 30-year rule, almost all elections were rigged delivering predictable majorities for the former president’s National Democratic party and alienating people from the ballot box. But even if there is a huge sense of empowerment sweeping the country, the referendum has polarised opinion sharply arousing hope and alarm in equal measure. Egypt has been ruled by emergency law for the entire duration of Mr Mubarak’s 30-year rule. The amendments were drafted in just a few days by legal experts selected by the military council running the country and are due to cover presidential elections that are promised by the end of the year. The opposition Muslim Brotherhood was the only political group represented in the drafting committee. The changes they propose limit presidential terms to four years that are renewable only once, but much to the consternation of many Egyptians, they fail to curtail the draconian powers wielded by the president. Another controversial amendment lays the ground for a complete overhaul of the constitution by the next parliament to be elected in September. “I will vote, but I will say No,” said Fatma Ahmed. “We don’t want amendments to the constitution. We want a completely new one. All the powers are still concentrated in the hands of the president.” Along with Mr Mubarak’s NDP, the Brotherhood has called for a Yes vote. Both are the only forces sufficiently organised to contest elections in the near future. They are likely to gain control of any parliament elected this year which would give them a big hand in shaping the next constitution. Ranged against them is the coalition of leaders of youth groups who launched the revolution and a handful of other secular parties. They have called for a no vote arguing that the country needs a new constitution before elections have been held. “Of course it has to be a no,” said Zeyyad Abbas, the owner of an advertising company. “We cannot guarantee who will be in the parliament that will be elected shortly. We don’t want the Brotherhood or the NDP, for the sake of the principals of the revolution, we need a new constitution.” This division is reflected heavily on the streets. Islamist groups have been distributing leaflets saying it was a “religious duty to vote Yes”. But secular group have also been organising, handing out leaflets to motorists at traffic lights and mobilising support on the internet. ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: Marxism@greenhouse.economics.utah.edu Set your options at: http://greenhouse.economics.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
