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Al-Ahram Weekly 31 August - 6 September 2000 Issue No. 497 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 31 August - 6 September 2000 Issue No. 497
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Parliament with a difference?
By Omayma Abdel-LatifIf the names of candidates being released by the various political parties for the forthcoming parliamentary elections are any indication, then the next Peoples Assembly promises to be rather different in its composition from the last one and, indeed, from many before it. Businessmen, who made a strong showing in the last elections, are likely to make an even greater impact this round. The last elections were extremely biased against both women and Copts. They promise to make a much stronger showing this time round.
It was the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) which set the trend. Other political parties are following suit.
For many observers, the inclusion of Coptic figures on the NDP's list is simply a matter of "correcting past mistakes." In the 1990 and 1995 elections, the NDP's list did not include a single Copt, a matter which disappointed many in political circles. An NDP source told Al-Ahram Weekly, however, that the party will rely on its choice of "good candidates" rather than target any particular group. But he expected that the list will have a "significant Coptic representation."
"The Coptic representation will definitely figure high on the NDP's list of candidates in order to make up for their conspicuous absence in previous elections," Adel Beshai, a member of the NDP's political bureau and himself a Copt, told the Weekly. However, Beshai finds the idea of nominating Coptic candidates problematic.
"The problem with the emphasis on choosing Coptic candidates is that it sounds as if they were chosen because of their religious identity, not because they fit very well in their constituencies and enjoy grassroot support," Beshai argued.
For some other political parties, nominating Copts has historical roots. The liberal Wafd is one party which makes a point of having a significant Coptic representation. In 1995, the Wafd had almost 50 candidates on its list. But Wafdist Coptic candidates insist that despite their religious affiliations they are contesting the elections as Egyptians. "When I address my constituents, I do not confine myself to Coptic concerns. I do not say that since I am a Copt, all Copts have to vote for me," Mounir Fakhri Abdel-Nour, a prominent businessman who is running in Cairo's Wayli district for the Wafd, told the Weekly.
The under-representation of women in parliament also appears set to change. Although Egyptian women won the right to vote in 1956, many political parties still question the wisdom of nominating women candidates to run against men given the social attitudes that are sometimes antagonistic to women's political activism. In an attempt to encourage women to be politically active, the National Council for Women (NCW), chaired by Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, has decided to fully back all women candidates. The council, in the words of Zeinab Radwan, one member, is urging women to participate more actively in politics and particularly to register as voters as an initial step towards their political empowerment.
Council members are currently touring villages to arrange issuing IDs for women free of charge. Radwan said that women can vote, using their IDs. She dismissed news reports that the council will help fund the campaigns of women candidates. Rather, she said it attempts to disseminate "political awareness" in order to help women choose the right candidates.
"We don't want women to sit in the back row of the People's Assembly. We want their presence to be felt both as candidates and voters," Radwan said
In the 1995 elections, the NDP nominated only 15 women, the Wafd nominated five, the Islamist-oriented Labour three and the Nasserist party none. The highest level of women's representation in parliament was 6.6 per cent following the 1987 elections. This was made possible by a law, later quashed by the Supreme Constitutional Court, which reserved 32 Assembly seats for women. This year, it is expected that women will figure high on the lists of candidates of many parties but according to many observers, the election battle may prove very tough given prevalent social attitudes.
For those who have amassed riches, the election battle may prove of little difficulty. Not new to the foray, several businessmen are planning to run. Nominating entrepreneur candidates dates back to 1995 when the NDP put at least a dozen businessmen on its list. Their presence in the assembly has proved fruitful in helping the switch to a market economy. One obstacle that may face them, however, is the recent uproar against businessmen who have been fleeing the country after their involvement in shady financial practices. Abdel-Nour said this would cast some doubt on the credibility of the business community. "Some parties may be reluctant to put a businessman on their list. It's more likely that businessmen are going to run as independents," Abdel-Nour said. The Wafd's list of candidates is likely to include prominent businessmen who are long-time party members.
Despite the tarnished image of the business community, NDP sources said they would still put some magnets on their list in keeping with the shift to a market economy and also because they represent an important segment of the political community that cannot be ignored.
It is certainly a healthy sign that various segments of society are showing enthusiasm for the elections. But as one political analyst put it, the most important question is not who runs but who votes. "Politicians should address the political apathy of people and persuade them to relate to the kind of politics the candidates advocate," said the analyst.
Related stories:
Brothers forward a new image, and a sister
The 1995 elections
