Democracy is a good thing, we all agree. And it requires certain measures to be credible and effective. Democracy assumes a free and fair rotation of power, freedom of expression and association, and judiciary control of the electoral process. A new constitution would be a nice touch. One way to do that is to have an independent government run the country for an interim period, just enough for an elected constitutive assembly to proclaim a new constitution. The constitution should set the duration of the presidential term at four years, renewable once. And the elected president should renounce his party affiliation for the duration of his term. Needless to say, presidential elections should have multiple candidates.
The State of Emergency has to end. If needed, it can be reinstituted by presidential decree for a maximum of 30 days, and only in cases of natural disasters, war and domestic armed conflict. All laws restricting public freedoms should be scrapped and the nation should have the right to form parties, societies and syndicates. Individuals and groups should be free to create newspapers, assemble, demonstrate, and stage peaceful sit-ins.
The judiciary must have absolute control over the electoral process. Proportional representation should be adopted to guarantee a voice in the parliament for all groups. Electoral fraud, torture, and abuse of power should all be treated as serious felonies not subject to the statute of limitations.
* This week's Soapbox speaker is a Nasserist activist and member of the Arab Dignity Party, currently under establishment.
Democracy is a good thing, we all agree. And it requires certain measures to be credible and effective. Democracy assumes a free and fair rotation of power, freedom of expression and association, and judiciary control of the electoral process. A new constitution would be a nice touch. One way to do that is to have an independent government run the country for an interim period, just enough for an elected constitutive assembly to proclaim a new constitution. The constitution should set the duration of the presidential term at four years, renewable once. And the elected president should renounce his party affiliation for the duration of his term. Needless to say, presidential elections should have multiple candidates.
