Egypt’s referendum: Going the wrong way – The Economist
Muhammad Morsi must accommodate the secular opposition; if necessary, the West should push him ,says The Economist.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Egypt-s-referen...
It looks likely that the second round of the referendum on the constitution will yield a majority in favour.In the first round 57 per cent of those who voted gave it their support. The second round in the more conservative provinces will almostcertainlyincrease the yes vote with a majority in favour. Mr Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood may feel they have a mandate to guide Egypt in an Islamist direction, away from more open, liberal ways.
This would be wrong ,The Economist says because it threatens a long period of instability which will impoverish islamists and secular Egyptians alike. It urges Mr Mursi and pragmatic islamists to compromise before it is too late.
Even if the constitution gets popular approval, it will not have a large and convincing endorsement. Less than one-third of eligible voters are reckoned to have turned out in the first round of the referendum, 32 percent according to the unofficial count and the margin of assent has been slim,The Economist says.
The opposition
Coptic Christians, who make up about a tenth of Egypt’s 85m people, are unnerved by the document’s Islamist flavour, as are many Egyptians with secular, liberal or left-wing views. The popularity of the Muslim Brotherhood is also slipping in the face of rising foodprices and unemployment. Egypt's poor feel the islamist parties have achieved little for them andtheir support is no longer automatic.
Hardline Muslim Brothers, who suffered years of repression, may be tempted to respond by gripping onto power even more tightly but the type of absolutism of the Mubarak dictatorship led led to his downfall and is not a recommended path. Mr Mursi and his alllies would do respect to respect alternative opinions as part of the democratic process rather than accusing opponents of being "followers of heretics" as an imam in Alexandria did,sparking serious rioting.
As a sign of conciliation The Economist suggests Mr Mursi should make the Shura council, which is Egypt's only legislative body untill fresh elections,more representative. Infact Mr Mursi has pushed through 90 new members increasingthe islamist domination of the Shura Council which was only elected withten per cent ofthe popular vote. Mr Mursi should change provisions allowing Al Azhar University to dabble in legal matters and measures reinforcing the army's position and special privileges should be revoked The Economist asserts.
The opposition,for its part should be more ready to negotiate and rely less on demonstrations which turn violent otherwise Egypt will never develop as a truly democraticsociety where give and take is part of dailylife. Their leadership needs to unify andbeginto develop a coherent alternative programme forthe next elections and begin to put forward measures to help Egypt's large population of poor people.
Whilst foreign governments have rightly stayed out of Egyptian politics now is the timeto voice their concerns and
Germany’s government was right recently to postpone aid until Mr Morsi shows a greater willingness to pass the test of real democracy. The Americans, who hand over $1.6 billion a year, should do the same, The Economist observes.
The start of the Arab Spring brought hopes of liberal democracy. Pessimists saw the process leading to another dictatorship. It is not toolate for Egypt to change course, The Economist concludes.
.
This would be wrong ,The Economist says because it threatens a long period of instability which will impoverish islamists and secular Egyptians alike. It urges Mr Mursi and pragmatic islamists to compromise before it is too late.
Even if the constitution gets popular approval, it will not have a large and convincing endorsement. Less than one-third of eligible voters are reckoned to have turned out in the first round of the referendum, 32 percent according to the unofficial count and the margin of assent has been slim,The Economist says.
The opposition
Coptic Christians, who make up about a tenth of Egypt’s 85m people, are unnerved by the document’s Islamist flavour, as are many Egyptians with secular, liberal or left-wing views. The popularity of the Muslim Brotherhood is also slipping in the face of rising foodprices and unemployment. Egypt's poor feel the islamist parties have achieved little for them andtheir support is no longer automatic.
Hardline Muslim Brothers, who suffered years of repression, may be tempted to respond by gripping onto power even more tightly but the type of absolutism of the Mubarak dictatorship led led to his downfall and is not a recommended path. Mr Mursi and his alllies would do respect to respect alternative opinions as part of the democratic process rather than accusing opponents of being "followers of heretics" as an imam in Alexandria did,sparking serious rioting.
As a sign of conciliation The Economist suggests Mr Mursi should make the Shura council, which is Egypt's only legislative body untill fresh elections,more representative. Infact Mr Mursi has pushed through 90 new members increasingthe islamist domination of the Shura Council which was only elected withten per cent ofthe popular vote. Mr Mursi should change provisions allowing Al Azhar University to dabble in legal matters and measures reinforcing the army's position and special privileges should be revoked The Economist asserts.
The opposition,for its part should be more ready to negotiate and rely less on demonstrations which turn violent otherwise Egypt will never develop as a truly democraticsociety where give and take is part of dailylife. Their leadership needs to unify andbeginto develop a coherent alternative programme forthe next elections and begin to put forward measures to help Egypt's large population of poor people.
Whilst foreign governments have rightly stayed out of Egyptian politics now is the timeto voice their concerns and
Germany’s government was right recently to postpone aid until Mr Morsi shows a greater willingness to pass the test of real democracy. The Americans, who hand over $1.6 billion a year, should do the same, The Economist observes.
The start of the Arab Spring brought hopes of liberal democracy. Pessimists saw the process leading to another dictatorship. It is not toolate for Egypt to change course, The Economist concludes.
.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Egypt-s-referen...