 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 5 - 11 August 1999 Issue No. 441 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 5 - 11 August 1999 Issue No. 441
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Focus Interview Features Travel Living Sports Time Out Chronicles People Cartoons Letters Time for pluralism
By Salah Issa *
The question of how to return to political pluralism is one of the most complicated problems facing the country. Economic liberalism has been the norm for 25 years now, but the constitution gives all authority to the executive, without giving parliament the tools with which to carry out its supervisory role.
Today, we have a limited multi-party system in which the single party assumes a false multi-party form. The capitalist class does not have a clue about the importance of democracy. It benefits from political authoritarianism, and aims at corrupting the executive authority.
The elite sees democracy as synonymous with anarchy. While all the political parties raise the slogan of democratic reform, they show a basic hostility to democracy. The party leadership is not averse to becoming a junior partner within an authoritarian political system.
Debates within the elite all begin with the assumption that each faction detains the ultimate truth, and therefore must profit from democracy alone. Anyone who disagrees is a traitor or an infidel. Economic liberalism combined with political authoritarianism has weakened public opinion and strengthened extremist organisations. This particular combination does not bring stability or development; perhaps it undermines both.
The time has come for radical constitutional reform. The government must be elected freely; parliament must exercise true authority; real pluralism must prevail.
*This week's Soapbox speaker is a veteran journalist and political writer.
