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Al-Ahram Weekly 4 - 10 May 2000 Issue No. 480 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 4 - 10 May 2000 Issue No. 480
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Special Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters The crucial 50 per cent
By Amina Shafiq *
Different views have been expressed regarding the specific quota of seats reserved by the Constitution for workers and peasants on all elected councils (Municipal Councils, the People's Assembly and the Shura Council) since the General National Congress in 1962, which endorsed the Charter of National Action then proposed by President Nasser.
Many seek to cancel this quota in parliamentary elections, arguing that society is no longer in a phase of transition from capitalism to socialism. Hence, they feel, the state cannot offer incentives to investors, restructure its economy and privatise the public sector and still remain committed to affirmative action policies.
The proponents of this view also point out that the multi-party system allows (at least theoretically) for the representation of different classes: a right-wing party representing capitalist interests, a left-wing party representing workers and peasants, and other parties in between.
President Mubarak's Labour Day speech, however, sided with those who believe that the state must take the social dimension into account in order to avoid the trials structural adjustment has inflicted on other countries.
Social considerations, however, imply more democratic practice within political parties, particularly the National Democratic Party, which holds the majority on all elected councils. Democracy is the only guarantee that the NDP's decisions are based on class interaction within the party.
* This week's Soapbox speaker is a journalist at Al-Ahram and a member of the National Women's Council.
