31 May - 6 June 2001
Issue No.536
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 31 May - 6 June 2001 Issue No.536 |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Form without content
The last People's Assembly elections claimed some casualties: people were injured, blood was spilled. In many constituencies the competition was so fierce candidates resorted to spurious tactics. Almost LE2 billion were spent despite the liquidity crisis that continues to make the headlines.
Despite the press they received this year, the Shura Council elections turned out to be a surprisingly quiet affair. After the hubbub surrounding the first round, candidates entered the second unobserved. Although reports drafted by the Ministry of Interior revealed only the names of the winners, semi-official reports asserted that only two to seven per cent of the voters turned out in each constituency, while the People's Assembly elections boasted 25 to 50 per cent participation. The difference reflects not only the limitations imposed on the Shura Council as a non-legislative body that has no decision-making powers, but the government's lack of interest in the council's workings. Unlike the People's Assembly elections, Shura Council elections are rarely attended by government officials. Nobody seems to care about the outcome.
No one listens to those who want to reinforce the Council's role. Yet the fact must be reiterated again: unless the Shura Council takes decision-making responsibilities, it will remain at best an ineffectual forum.
* This week's Soapbox speaker is managing editor of Al-Wafd.
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